Rehabilitation and Repair

NTPC returns 8-MW Snare Rapids hydro unit to service

The Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) in Canada announced that the 8-MW Snare Rapids Hydro Unit was returned to service on March 12, after a rehabilitation.

The unit was shut down on Feb. 2 when NTPC’s control center received a number of alarms indicating that the generator was experiencing problems.

The failure of equipment in the main generator caused the shutdown. Two of the 56 rotor poles in the unit failed and had to be sent offsite for repair. The unit has been tested and is now considered back to fully functional.

“NTPC staff and contractors worked hard to return Snare Rapids to service on the lower end of our original time estimate for repair. Aging hydro infrastructure will continue to pose challenges in maintaining reliable electricity supply to customers in the North and South Slave regions,” said Noel Voykin, president and chief executive officer of NTPC.

Total cost of the shutdown is unknown at this time, NTPC said, but diesel replacement costs during the shutdown totaled about $630,000.

Snare Rapids is one component of a system that also includes the 7.4-MW Snare Falls, 4.3-MW Snare Cascades and 5.3-MW Snare Forks projects. The plants are located on the Snare River and provide power to Yellowknife, Behchoko and Dettah.

NTPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of NT Hydro, which in turn is 100% owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories.