Under the contract, Alstom will be responsible for the supply of a new stator, upgradation of the poles, bearings, bearing bracket and starting motor, as well as disassembly and re-assembly, including commissioning.
The generators are required to be upgraded as some machine components including generator stands reach the end of their service life and other parts are in need of repair.
Alstom plans to commence generator upgrade work in June 2016 and complete by February 2017.
The contract also has provision for upgrading remaining four generators at the hydropower plant.
The synchronous generator upgrade work is expected to result in increased output in addition to offering operational safety, Alstom said.
The contract is the second order placed by Vattenfall to Alstom. The first contract was awarded in August 2014 to upgrade another synchronous generator with planned completion by spring of 2016.
Commissioned in 1979, the Markersbach hydropower plant is claimed to be the second-largest pumped-storage power station in Germany.
During periods of low energy demand, the facility pumps the water from the lower reservoir at an elevation of 563m to an upper reservoir at 850m to generate power using six 174.25MW reversible Francis pump turbines.
When energy demand is high, the water is released back down towards the lower reservoir, making optimal use of the stored water.
Image: The Markersbach hydropower plant features six 174.25MW reversible Francis pump turbines. Photo: courtesy of ALSTOM.
