BC Hydro’s newest turbine arrived at Mica Generating Station on October 20, 2013, after being transported by barge down the 200 kilometre-long Kinbasket Reservoir. The stainless steel turbine is 6.45 metres in diameter and weighs 137.5 tonnes – the equivalent weight of four humpback whales. Mica was originally designed to hold six generating units, but only four were installed when the station was constructed in the 1970s. BC Hydro is now working to add two new generating units at Mica that will provide an additional 1,000 megawatts of capacity to the system. The new turbine will power the sixth generating unit currently under construction. Andritz Hydro manufactured the turbine in Germany. It was transported over 13,000 kilometres by sea, road and barge before arriving at Mica Generating Station this week. The turbine for the fifth generating unit was delivered following the same route in June 2013. Gene Blackman photo courtesy of BC HydroHere’s another view of the turbine. As well as installing the new turbine at Mica, BC Hydro is also replacing aging switchgear equipment that delivers the power from the underground generating units to the above-ground transmission lines and installing additional equipment needed for the new units. At a total expected investment of between $800 and $900 million, the upgrade and expansion at Mica is Hydro’s largest capital project since the construction of Revelstoke Dam and is providing many benefits to the region. In addition to numerous contracts awarded for supplies and services, the Mica projects have hired more than 800 individual workers to date to help with on-site construction work. Gene Blackman photo courtesy of BC Hydro
