The plant is located on the border between Canada and the USA and is now generating power on the BC Hydro grid.
The 335 MW expansion adds a second powerhouse, immediately downstream of the Waneta Dam on the Pend-d’Oreille River, that shares the existing hydraulic head and generates clean, renewable, cost effective power from water that would otherwise be spilled. The project also included construction of a 10 km, 230 kV transmission line and provides enough energy to power about 60,000 Canadian homes per year.
"We are proud to have contributed to one of the largest infrastructure projects of British Columbia and helped bringing it online. We contributed to making available reliable and affordable electricity from a renewable, climate friendly source," William Malus, CEO of Voith Hydro in Canada , pointed out.
At the time of substantial completion, the project was the eighth largest hydro electrical infrastructure project in British Columbia . The Waneta Expansion Project was completed six weeks ahead of schedule. Two parallel tunnels are feeding the two Francis turbine units, each supplying 167.5 MW. In addition to the turbines, Voith Hydro supplied the generators, governors, exciters and various additional auxiliary systems of the plant’s equipment. Voith Hydro is a subcontractor to SNC Lavalin Inc. acting as the prime contractor on the project.
The Owner WELP announced that the project employed over 1,400 people overall in the five years of design, manufacturing, construction and commissioning. Voith Hydro started working on the project in October 2010 .
