MONTRÉAL, Oct. 17, 2019 /CNW
Telbec/ - Boralex Inc. ("Boralex" or the "Corporation") (TSX: BLX)
announced today that it is repowering its Buckingham power station in Québec.
"Repowering" or refurbishment means replacing and upgrading
existing equipment. Installed capacity at the Buckingham power station has now been
increased from 10 MW to 20 MW, raising Boralex's worldwide
installed capacity to 2,013 MW. The power station will generate an
average of 50% more energy thanks to the more efficient use of
hydropower made possible by the increase in capacity.
Located in Québec's Outaouais region, the power station was
built in 1913 and initially upgraded by Boralex in 1994. The
facility's first 25-year power purchase agreement with Hydro-Québec
ran from 1994 to 2019, and has been renewed to 2038.
"The work on the Buckingham
hydroelectric power station is a clear example of our asset
optimization," said Patrick Decostre, Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of Boralex. "By replacing older equipment with
more productive equipment, Boralex is meeting Québec's energy needs
more effectively while respecting the environment."
Work at the site began in June
2018 and continued without interruption until the
commissioning. Most of the work was done by the Kiewit construction
company with assistance from several subcontractors. Four of
Buckingham's five turbines were
replaced by Litostroj bulb turbine-generators. The fifth turbine
was kept since it is still adequate for power station purposes. The
project was built and commissioned on time.
Replacement of the four turbines doubled the power station's
installed capacity, which will add approximately $5 million to the Corporation's annual
EBITDA(A).
About Boralex
Boralex develops, builds and operates renewable energy power
facilities in Canada, France, the United
Kingdom and the United
States. A leader in the Canadian market and France's largest independent producer of
onshore wind power, the Corporation is recognized for its solid
experience in optimizing its asset base in four power generation
types — wind, hydroelectric, thermal and solar. Boralex has ensured
sustained growth by leveraging the expertise and diversification
developed for nearly 30 years. Boralex's shares and convertible
debentures are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbols BLX and BLX.DB.A, respectively. More information is
available at www.boralex.com or www.sedar.com. Follow us on
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
SOURCE Boralex Inc.