08 August 2024
Header image: Jeffrey Westbrook, Hydro Tasmania Project Manager at Gordon Power Station.
The removal of the 173-tonne stator is just one part of a major upgrade currently underway at our mighty Gordon Power Station in the Tassie's southwest. Officially opened in 1978, Gordon Power Station is Tasmania’s largest renewable power generator.
The $78million works to refurbish two of the three turbines in the station will add another 30 years of life to the machines! Lifting the massive stators out of the turbines is the most complex aspect of the upgrades.
Jeffrey Westbrook, Project Manager with our Assets & Infrastructure team, was on site when the stator was carefully lifted away from the rest of the machine and slowly transported across the power station with just centimetres of leeway either side.
“It’s such a great reflection of all the effort by the team. It’s been a huge effort over the last 12 months to plan and prepare for today, so seeing a successful lift in such a controlled way and seeing the team bond together to really get the best out of the day is just exceptional,” said Jeffrey.
Executive General Manager of Assets & Infrastructure, Jesse Clark, said the works had taken years to plan, complicated by the fact that the power station is 183 metres underground.
“The engineering and logistical planning that has gone into the upgrades is phenomenal,” said Jesse.
Sixty workers are carrying out the upgrades on site, housed at nearby Pedder Wilderness Lodge, which has been renovated and expanded to accommodate the workforce.
“While working on the upgrades, the team has been living on site away from their family and friends, and I’d like thank them for all the work and time they’ve put into this project!" said Jesse.
Upgrades to the second turbine are due to be completed over the next 12 months, and refurbishment of the first machine will commence in 2027! This project is just part of our ongoing upgrades to infrastructure across Tasmania, that will power our island state for generations.
General Electric components have been imported from China, Italy and France and are being fine-tuned by the highly skilled team at Hydro Tasmania’s Cambridge workshop.
“It requires a significant investment every year to maintain and upgrade. Everything is very carefully planned and coordinated to ensure sufficient capacity to meet Tasmania’s energy needs,” said Jesse.
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