The hydro division of GE Renewable Energy has been awarded a contract by SPIC Brasil to carry out a comprehensive modernisation project at São Simão Hydroelectric Power Plant in Brazil. The project, which is located between the towns of Santa Vitória and São Simão, has six generating units with a total capacity of 1.71 GW, enough to power six million homes. The scope of work comprises providing equipment for the turbine, generator and auxiliary system, the engineering project and its integration, as well as the assembly and commissioning of the six generating units.
According to the reports, the project will be carried out by GE’s hydro division, with backing from China’s state-owned engineering firm Powerchina. Powerchina will also supply the plant with electrical and mechanical balance of plant (BOP) equipment, as well as digital control and hydromechanics. The entire engineering, development, integration, supply, assembly, and commissioning cycle is projected to take nine years.
Earlier this month, Invenergy and GE Renewable Energy announced commercial operations for the 998 MW Traverse Wind Energy Center, the largest wind farm constructed in a single phase in North America. Located in north central Oklahoma, Traverse joins the operational 199 MW Sundance Wind Energy Center and the 287 MW Maverick Wind Energy Center, as the last of three projects developed by Invenergy for American Electric Power (AEP) to reach commercial operation.
