The plant is located in the Ore Mountains and was commissioned in 1979. It has a power output of 1,050 MW and is the second largest pumped storage power station in Germany. It is also one of the largest hydropower plants of its kind in Europe. Work to upgrade the plant had become necessary due to some of the components, such as the generator stands, reaching the end of their service life with other parts requiring repair. The completion of the work will deliver a greater level of operational safety as well as enabling an increase in output.
Work on the generator will begin in June 2016 and should be completed by February 2017. It is the second order received by the company from Vattenfall, following a previous contract in August 2014 to upgrade another synchronous generator. This should be completed in spring 2016.
The overhaul of the Markersbach plant will consist of the delivery of a new stator, upgrading of the poles, bearings, bearing bracket and starting motor as well as disassembly and re-assembly, including commissioning. A contractual option covers the overhaul of the remaining four generators with Alstom commissioning one generator per year.
With regard to hydro, Alstom specialises in the engineering, design, construction, production and assembly for core components of any type and size of machines generating energy from hydro power. The company has also developed extensive experience in assessing and servicing, retrofitting and modernising power plants in operation. This includes spares, field-service (diagnosis, troubleshooting, maintenance and repair), retrofit and O&M on all type of electromechanical equipment (turbine, generator, control systems). The Group employs 88,000 people in around 100 countries.
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