Viteos, Hydroelectric Power Plant Retrofit
Discover how Alps Group modernized a hydroelectric power plant equipped with four Francis turbines with a total installed capacity of 3.8 MW.
Context
Viteos is a leading energy transition provider in the canton of Neuchâtel, supplying energy and managing water, electricity, gas, and district heating/cooling networks for over 100,000 customers. The Viteos group offers efficient, comprehensive, and sustainable solutions for both residential and industrial clients, covering infrastructure, photovoltaics, energy storage batteries, heat pump systems, and electric mobility.
Viteos commissioned Alps Group to carry out the retrofit of three hydroelectric production sites, including the Chanet power plant presented here.
Hydroelectric Site Electrical Control and Automation Retrofit
The Chanet power plant, located in Boudry along the Areuse River, has a 291 m penstock with a gross head of 65.8 m. It consists of four generating units of approximately 1.5 MW each (gross). The retrofit scope was to preserve the existing electrical cabinets while replacing the control‑command systems for each unit and the master PLC.
Deliverables
Starting with a pre‑study, Alps Group evaluated all three production sites and defined a retrofit concept and global approach in collaboration with the client.
The production sites were retrofitted sequentially, unit by unit, with the master controller and auxiliary functions such as alarm escalation completed last.
The project included:
- A new automation architecture based on Siemens S7‑1500, with one master PLC and one PLC per turbine unit
- A new AVEVA‑based supervision system shared across the production sites
- New ABB synchronization modules (SYNCHROTACT 6)
- New ABB excitation modules (UNITROL 1020)
We now have a high‑performance solution configured and delivered according to our requirements and expectations.