GM Shrum Projects

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The Gordon M. Shrum (GMS) Generating Station, located next to the W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River near Hudson's Hope, is a cornerstone of BC Hydro’s generation system. BC Hydro has determined that some of the key equipment in the power plant is in poor health and represents a risk to reliability.

Various projects are being undertaken at the GSM Generating Station to address these issues. Use the anchor links below to view a short description and status update of each:

• Project: Units 1 to 5 Turbine Rehabilitation
• Project: Units 1 to 4 Generator Stators Replacement
• Project: Units 6 & 7 Rotor Pole Replacement
• Project: Transformer Replacement
• Project: Units 6 to 8 Capacity Increase
• Project: Station Service Replacement

Project need

B.C.'s electricity demand continues to grow

BC Hydro’s efficient, reliable system delivers some of the lowest electricity rates in North America. While B.C. was once self-sufficient, we have been relying on annual net power imports to meet up to 15% of the province’s electricity needs in seven of the past 10 years.

To continue to meet B.C.’s current and growing demand for electricity, projected to rise by 25 to 30% over the next two decades, it is critical that BC Hydro undertakes capital work to renew and upgrade hydroelectric infrastructure at several facilities.

Project: Units 1 to 5 Turbine Rehabilitation

GMS generating Units 1 to 5 represent 12 per cent of BC Hydro’s electricity producing capacity, which means that their reliability has an impact on the security of the province’s electricity supply.

The need for renewal

Equipment Health Rating (EHRs) assessments undertaken by BC Hydro found that the 1960s era turbines in GMS Units 1 to 5 must be replaced. The project is being undertaken to ensure ongoing reliability, availability and operational flexibility of these units. A secondary benefit of the project will be an improvement in turbine efficiency.

The current maximum capacity per machine is 261 megawatts. The new turbines will be limited to the current capacity because of other existing equipment capacity constraints and the existing water licence limitations.

The new turbines will ultimately allow the generating units to one day operate at a capacity of 305 MW. However, this capacity increase will require additional equipment upgrades and BC Hydro must also apply for a water licence revision and receive approval from the Ministry of Environment.

What’s involved?

There are a limited number of manufacturers capable of supplying the large turbines used at GMS, and those manufacturers are seeing a significant number of orders at this time – meaning this upgrade project will take several years.

The first stage of project implementation consists of the design and modelling of a turbine to demonstrate the robustness and efficiency guarantees of the final product. To optimize the design and efficiency improvements and still maintain commercial competitiveness, the design and modelling work was awarded to two manufacturers, Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation Inc. and Andritz Hydro Power Canada Inc, that will compete to provide the best possible solution for this project.

Final award to a single manufacturer is anticipated for the summer of 2010, at which time the selected firm will proceed to the implementation of the second stage of the project. The second stage includes shop fabrication of the turbine followed by site construction, installation and start-up of the turbines.

The first unit is forecast to come into service in 2012, followed by one unit per year thereafter. The final unit is expected to be in service in early 2017.

The cost of implementing the project is more than $50 million, and therefore an application will be made to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) seeking a determination that the project is in the public interest. This application will be filed in the summer of 2009.

Prior to filing the application, BC Hydro will hold a workshop on this application. It is expected that the BCUC will hold a hearing on the application during the fall of 2009.

Project: Units 1 to 4 Generator Stators Replacement

The generator stators (the stationary part of the generating unit that converts the mechanical energy of the rotor into electrical energy) in Units 1 to 4 were also built in the 1960s and are due for replacement.

 A contract was awarded to Alstom Canada Inc. for the replacement of the stators. Two
units are now complete and the other two are forecast to be completed by the end of 2010.

Project: Units 6 & 7 Rotor Pole Replacement

Rotor poles (the rotating part of the generator connected to the turbine) on GMS Units 6 and 7
were also determined to no longer meet BC Hydro’s Equipment Health Rating (EHR) criteria and required a redesign and replacement to accommodate the increased generating capacity on Units 6 and 7 (see 6 to 8 Project below).

The first installation is complete and the second unit will be completed in late 2010.

Project: Transformer Replacement

GMS has 30 unit transformers (the device that increases the voltage to allow transmission
over distance). Ten of these transformers will be replaced to ensure the reliability of the plant.

Installation of the new transformers started in October 2008 and will be completed in 2011. Five
new transformers will arrive at GMS in late spring and installation activities will last into fall 2009.

Project: Units 6 to 8 Capacity Increase

GMS Units 6 to 8 will be refurbished to increase the capacity of GMS by 90 MW by replacing the generator circuit breakers and iso-phase bus.

 The increase in capacity is allowable within the current water licence. The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) reviewed the proposed upgrade and confirmed the project would not require an Environmental Assessment Certificate and may proceed because it will not have significant adverse environmental, economic, social, heritage, or health affects.

The BCEAO made this conclusion after extensive consultation with, and feedback from, appropriate government agencies, local governments and First Nations. The contract was
awarded to Alstom Canada Inc. Work will start this summer and is expected to be completed by summer 2011.

Project: Station Service Replacement

The station service system provides the power for the plant controls, battery systems, fire systems and all the auxiliary systems necessary to run the plant’s generators. The general contract has been awarded to ABB Inc. and completion is expected by 2011.

This update is provided to keep residents of the Peace region informed on asset refurbishments being made to the G. M. Shrum Generating Station.