Voith Hydro awarded the contract for upgrade of Contact Energy’s Roxburgh Hydropower Plant in New Zealand
- The project will support New Zealand’s ambitious goal to lower carbon emissions.
- Voith Hydro strengthens its position as one of the leading hydropower equipment suppliers in New Zealand.
Contact Energy selected Voith Hydro to upgrade its Roxburgh hydropower plant on the Clutha River in New Zealand. Contact is looking to increase its generation output using the same water flow by replacing four turbines with a more efficient and modern design.
Under the contract, signed back in May, Voith Hydro will be responsible for engineering, scale model testing, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the four new turbines with 40 MW capacity each. The hydraulic model testing of the turbine will be done at Voith Hydro’s facilities in York, Penn., USA, in August 2021. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2024 and will support New Zealand’s ambitious goals to lower carbon emissions.
Stephen Lewis, President, CEO of Voith Hydro APAC comments: “Voith Hydro is honored to be responsible for the efficiency and performance improvements of the turbines at the historic Roxburgh power station.”
The project will be executed in a collaboration between Voith Hydro engineering centers in the United States, Germany and India, and the new turbines will be manufactured at Voith Hydro’s manufacturing facility in Vadodara, India.
The site works will be performed by local construction workers from a New Zealand-based subcontractor.
“Voith Hydro is strongly committed to the long-term development of hydropower in Australia and New Zealand,” adds Lewis.
Mike Fuge, CEO of Contact Energy, said the project was good news for the local economy as well.
“We expect Voith will supplement its international experts with local construction workers and NZ-based contractors, which is positive news for the local Alexandra and Roxburgh communities,” said Fuge. “Projects like these will have real, tangible effects for our local communities.”
About Contact Energy
Contact Energy is the second-largest electricity generator with the second-largest market share as an electricity retailer. With a long history of renewable energy development and innovation in New Zealand, Contact Energy is committed to lowering carbon emissions for New Zealand by implementing quality, long-life renewables that can economically replace thermal assets.
Contact Energy is implementing an ambitious hydro turbine refurbishment program by 2030 for its two hydropower plant in operation in South Island as part of the company strategy to increasing renewable generation
About Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has more than 20,000 employees, sales of € 4.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.
The Group Division Voith Hydro is part of the Voith Group and a leading full-line supplier as well as trusted partner for equipping hydropower plants. Voith develops customized, long-term solutions and services for large and small hydro plants all over the world. Its portfolio of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all major components for large and small hydro plants, from generators, turbines, pumps and automation systems, right through to spare parts, maintenance and training services, and digital solutions for intelligent hydropower.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Best Regards
Kathrin Röck
Voith Group
Head of Communications
Global Communications Voith Hydro
Group Division Hydro
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