Benmore Power Station Cooling Water Upgrade

Meridian Energy Ltd | Benmore Dam, Waitaki, New Zealand

EIS was engaged as an EPC Contractor to upgrade the existing cooling water system at Benmore Hydro Power station owned by Meridian Energy Limited (MEL).

The project duration was two years where EIS was contracted to design, install and commission the mechanical and electrical upgrade of the generation cooling water system.

EIS were engaged under an ‘Early Contractor Engagement’ model by MEL to work collaboratively with them to carry out a detailed mechanical and electrical design for the replacement of the ‘end of life’ generation cooling water system. EIS, as the EPC contractor, engaged the services of a hydro design company for the mechanical design and installation whilst EIS carried out the electrical design, installation and overall project management.

This project included new 250kW motors and pumps with Variable Speed Drive control fed from 3.3kV/400V transformers via Rockwell Centreline 2500 Motor Control Centres all new equipment supplied, installed and commissioned by EIS.

EIS and its subcontractors successfully completed this upgrade without impacting the power stations generating capacity.