![](/-/media/Hatch-Corporate/Projects/Energy/GrandFalls1-filter.jpg)
Exploits River Hydroelectric Assets Condition Assessment
Upgrading aging hydro plants with a levelized CAPEX plan
Nalcor Energy | Canada | 2012
100-year-old
hydro plants assessed
HydroVantageTM
and eInspector tools added value
20-year
levelized CAPEX plan for upgrades produced
Challenges
- Nalcor Energy needed a technical assessment, CAPEX plan, and an asset management plan in order to bring three aging hydroelectric facilities up to the standards expected of today's utilities.
- The 100-plus-year-old plants were obtained from Abitibi Bowater Paper Company in 2009.
- The Grand Falls, Bishop’s Falls, and Buchans generating stations located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, have a combined output of 101 MW from 15 units, with associated water-retaining structures needed to supply the operation.
Solutions
- The HydroVantage software system was used to establish the optimal, risk-informed intervention strategy for the next 20 years.
- A physical inspection was undertaken of all facilities and past O&M records were evaluated, along with a detailed condition assessment of all assets in the system.
- Alternatives such as overhaul, refurbishment, upgrade, or replacement were considered, and their costs were estimated.
- A risk-based assessment of alternatives led to a recommended capital expenditures plan, which was also levelized to satisfy financial constraints.
Highlights
- The proprietary eInspector tool was customized to collect and store the data on physical assets.
- HydroVantage prioritized CAPEX, based on minimizing risk due to equipment failures.
- The owner’s annual CAPEX constraints were levelized for the 20-year CAPEX plan.
Project numbers
101 MW from 15 units20-year CAPEX plan
Services & technologies provided
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