New turbine arrives at Mica Generating Station
BC Hydro's newest turbine being barged down Kinbasket Reservoir to Mica Generating Station.
The 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 fifth generating unit currently under construction.
Andritz Hydro manufactured the turbine in Germany, and it was transported over 13,000 kilometres by sea, road and barge before arriving at Mica Generating Station this week. BC Hydro project manager Owen Williams explains the transport.