The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has completed the upgradation of first of 12 pump-turbines at the Niagara hydroelectric power project’s Lewiston pump-generating plant under the Life Extension and Modernization (LEM) program.
The ten-year, $460m LEM program, which began in late 2012, calls for the modernization of the plant’s 12 turbines, and the replacement of outdated generator step-up transformers.
The work at LPGP will overhaul one pump-turbine every eight to nine months, ensuring that 11 of the 12 LPGP turbine units are available for operation during the upgrade so that NYPA can meet commitments to its power customers.
NYPA senior vice president for power generation Joseph Kessler said NYPA has upgraded the first generator that marks a significant step in the critical infrastructure upgrade at its pump-generating plant.
“The Power Authority is committed to ensuring that the Niagara Hydroelectric Plant is able to operate at maximum efficiency for decades to come, providing some of the lowest cost electricity in the country to the region’s businesses and other customers,” added.
NYPA has awarded refurbishing works at the plant to contractor Ferguson Electric, which will overhaul one pump-turbine every eight to nine months, ensuring that 11 of the 12 turbines are operating during the upgrade.
LPGP supplies electricity during peak power demand, supplementing the output of the Robert Moses Niagara power plant, the main generating facility. Together, these plants have a total capacity of 2,441MW.