GE Vernova to support modernization of Rio Tinto’s Isle Maligne hydropower plant in Canada

GE Vernova Inc. announced that it has secured an order from Rio Tinto, one of Canada's largest private producers of hydroelectricity, for the upgrade of eight turbine-alternator units at the Isle Maligne hydropower plant in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada. The plant features twelve Francis hydropower units in total.

The modernization of this nearly 100-year-old hydropower plant is expected to enhance the performance of the units and their lifetime for decades to come. It will help Rio Tinto supply energy for its five low-carbon aluminum smelters facility in Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean.

Last year, under a previous agreement, GE Vernova modernized one generator at the Isle-Maligne plant. After that, Rio Tinto and GE Vernova made the decision to issue a more holistic approach for the modernization of the remaining eight turbine-alternator units. This larger and longer-term scope will enable early engagement and close collaboration between the two companies. It gives the visibility needed to plan, design, and secure the supply chain, providing Rio Tinto with an optimized project schedule and reduced total cost of ownership, while ensuring efficient and timely project execution. The first unit modernization in expected in 2026 and the last one by 2032.

This project is the result of the longstanding collaboration between Rio Tinto and GE Vernova, which involved work on several hydropower plants located in the province of Quebec, Canada, such as Shipshaw.

Sébastien Ross Managing Director for Atlantic Operations, Rio Tinto Aluminium said: “The Isle-Maligne hydroelectric power plant has been a strategic asset for Rio Tinto for 100 years, drawing on the expertise and dedication of multiple generations of employees and business partners. This major investment to modernise our facilities will ensure the long-term future and competitivity of our low carbon aluminium production in Quebec for decades to come for our Canadian and American customers.’’

Frederic Ribieras, Hydro Power CEO, GE Vernova, said: “This modernization project at the Isle Maligne plant is a testament of how we can achieve greater efficiency and performance without altering the core infrastructure. And, this long-term collaboration will be critical to help secure the supply chain in a capacity-constrained market, with pressure on the industry to execute on many projects.”

Canada has one of the least carbon intensive energy systems in the world, in large part thanks to hydropower, which supplies around 60% of the country’s electricity needs. However, the average age of hydropower plants in Canada is 53 years old. By 2050, electricity demand is expected to double in Canada. Modernizing its existing hydropower fleet will be essential to meet that growing demand with clean and reliable power.

In Canada, GE Vernova’s team of over 2,000 talented employees, backed by a legacy spanning more than 130 years, is driving meaningful change by supporting our customers from coast to coast to coast with power generation, transmission, conversion, storage, and orchestration solutions.

www.gevernova.com