The Loy Yang coal-fired power plant in Australia has returned to service following a major generator failure. The recommissioning was expedited by Siemens Power Generation which used as a replacement a decommissioned unit from the Moorburg power plant in Germany.
The decommissioned generator had similar performance to the old Loy Yang unit. However it had to be adapted to the specific conditions at the Australian plant. In particular the replacement unit was 330mm shorter and 35t heavier than the unit it was replacing.
The replacement, which weighs 457t, was shipped by road and sea. The speed of the response meant that the power plant was only out of service for four months. Siemens has now been commissioned to repair the damaged generator which will be held as a spare.
Meanwhile Silcar Maintenance Services, a joint venture of Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group and Brisbane-based Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd has won a contract from Loy Yang Power covering the maintenance of the power plant and associated coal mine. The deal, worth around E31 million, is for two years with an option of up to ten years.
