Voith has been awarded a contract by the Canadian utility Manitoba Hydro to equip the Keeyask Generating Station located in Northern Manitoba, on the lower Nelson River, in Canada. The scope of work for Voith Hydro includes the design, supply and installation of seven new hydroelectric vertical propeller turbine generator units.
The Keeyask Generating Station is being developed by the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership, a venture between Manitoba Hydro and four Manitoba First Nations: Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, York Factory First Nation, and Fox Lake Cree Nation.
When completed, Keeyask will be the fourth largest generating station in the province of Manitoba, providing approximately 695 megawatts of capacity and producing an average of 4,400 gigawatt hours of renewable hydroelectricity each year. The first unit is scheduled to be in service in 2019.
"Voith is very proud to be a part of this exciting new hydropower development," said Bill Malus, President and CEO for Voith Hydro Canada. "We are especially proud to be associated with a project that is being developed collaboratively between a utility and four First Nations to provide long-term energy supply to present and future generations."
Canada is one of the largest producers of hydropower in the world: The installed capacity amounts to 73 GW and its share of the country's total electricity supply is almost 65 percent. Canada's hydropower potential – more than double of the current capacity – can help meet electricity demands while reducing green-house gases and air pollutants.
Voith Hydro in Canada is well-prepared for providing solutions to the hydropower market and offers vast experience with deep know-how in new equipment, modernization and service from its various locations in Canada.
The Importance of Hydropower
Hydropower is the largest, oldest and also most reliable form of renewable energy generation. Worldwide it makes an indispensable contribution to stable power supplies and hence to economic and social development – both in industrial countries and in emerging markets. At the same time, hydropower significantly contributes to climate-protecting energy generation. Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology since the early beginning, and continuously develops it further.
