PPL commissions new US powerhouse

PPL Holtwood, a subsidiary of PPL Generation, has commenced the commercial operations of a new 125-megawatt powerhouse at its Holtwood hydroelectric facility along the Susquehanna river in south-central Pennsylvania, US.

The powerhouse, which is part of a $440m expansion project, has been built to increase the plant’s generating capacity and improve fish passage over the century-old dam.

The new modern powerhouse will increase the facility’s generating capacity from around 108 megawatts to more than 230 megawatts, while additional capacity is expected to provide power to about 100,000 homes.

PPL fossil and hydro generation senior vice president Victor Lopiano said the project represents a major investment in clean, reliable, renewable energy.

"I thank everyone who was involved in design and construction of the new powerhouse," he said. "This project highlights the potential to upgrade existing hydroelectric facilities and expand capacity without the need to build new dams," Lopiano added.

"The new facility’s two 62.5-megawatt turbines are capable of generating more electricity than the 12 existing turbines, combined."

According to Lopiano, the hydroelectric expansion further strengthens the diversity of company’s competitive generation fleet within the mid-Atlantic, which includes nuclear power, natural gas and coal-fired power plants.

The company expects to qualify for federal grants made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, with the completion of latest project.

The PPL group owns around 18,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the US, and delivers electricity and natural gas to about 10 million customers in the US and the UK.