OPG’s planned hydro overhaul will help fight climate change, provide economic boost
For a century, hydro electricity has powered the lives of Ontarians. To ensure clean, reliable hydropower continues to support the province’s wellbeing, OPG is planning an extensive 22-year overhaul of generating units across the company’s fleet.
The estimated $2.5-billion turbine/generator overhaul program aims to repair or replace key components in the generating units at OPG’s hydro facilities – from the province’s northwest to the southeast. This refurbishment takes place every 25 to 50 years across operations in the company’s Renewable Generation division.
The overhaul program will ensure generating units can continue to operate efficiently and reliably while supporting OPG’s net-zero carbon goals outlined in its recent Climate Change Plan. The program will also create many new jobs and numerous economic benefits for local and Indigenous communities in the way of partnerships, apprenticeships and other work opportunities.
“As a company, we have made a commitment to reach a net-zero carbon footprint by 2040 and investing into our hydro assets is key to reaching our climate change goals,” said Alison Bradley, Director of Asset and Project Management at OPG.
While unit overhauls are not uncommon for OPG’s hydro stations, the number of overhauls taking place per year will be ramping up under this program as numerous stations reach the critical age for major refurbishment.
“As a company, we have made a commitment to reach a net-zero carbon footprint by 2040 and investing into our hydro assets is key to reaching our climate change goals.”Alison Bradley, Director of Asset and Project Management at OPG
Bradley anticipates an average of eight hydro unit overhauls taking place each year over the next two decades for a total of about 174 units. That’s 74 per cent of all units within OPG’s Ontario hydro fleet, representing 6,550 megawatts of generating capacity, or enough to power more than 5 million homes. Some of these overhauls have already started in certain regions.
An overhaul of a hydroelectric generator can include the repair or replacement of parts like the stator, rotor, shaft, wicket gate, turbine, bearings and other major components. The work can take anywhere from six months to a year depending on the scope of work, as well as the age and condition of the unit.
“We know this is going to be a very competitive market in the next few years,” Bradley said. “Beyond OPG, other utilities like Hydro Quebec and B.C. Hydro all have assets in a very similar age range, and everyone will be going through a big overhaul or replacement program.”
To support this major capital project, OPG will be looking to expand its list of specialized engineering and manufacturing vendor partners, who will help design and replace the turbines and generator parts.
Through its partners and direct hiring, OPG also anticipates more skilled workers will be needed to support these refurbishments. In particular, there will be an increased need for jobs in engineering, project management, manufacturing, machining, construction trades, and quality control.
There will be a number of other off-shoot economic benefits for local communities as well.
“As the majority of our hydro generating stations are located in small communities, this program will really boost the local businesses in those areas, especially in areas like lodging, shopping, and dining,” Bradley said. “The local Indigenous communities around our stations will also benefit greatly from this work program through work opportunities and partnerships.”
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