Project parameters
Litostroj replaced four original turbines from 1913 with modern Vertical Bulb units, doubling installed capacity while maximizing efficiency and making full use of the existing powerhouse.
Revitalizing a century-old hydropower plant
Located on the Lièvre River in Quebec, Canada, the Buckingham Hydroelectric Generating Station has been producing renewable electricity for more than a century. Originally commissioned in 1913, the plant had reached the limits of its ageing equipment. Boralex entrusted Litostroj with a complete modernization that would not only replace obsolete turbines but significantly increase the plant's long-term performance within the existing powerhouse.
Doubling power without expanding the plant
Modernizing a historic hydropower plant presents a unique engineering challenge. The objective was ambitious: maximize the available hydraulic potential while preserving the existing civil infrastructure.
Instead of constructing a new powerhouse, Litostroj developed a solution that increased the installed capacity from 9.9 MW to 20 MW—more than doubling the plant's output. By combining modern Vertical Bulb technology with optimized hydraulic design, the project unlocked substantially higher energy production while making better use of the available river flow.
Engineering an optimized hydraulic solution
The project required far more than replacing the original turbines. Litostroj engineers carried out extensive CFD simulations and physical hydraulic model testing to analyse the complete water passage—from the intake channel to the draft tube.
Several design concepts were evaluated to balance hydraulic performance, operational flexibility, maintenance requirements and investment costs. The final solution combined two Kaplan and two fixed-blade Propeller turbines, allowing the plant to efficiently utilize a 72% higher water flow while maintaining reliable operation across varying conditions.
Alongside the new turbines, Litostroj also supplied new generators and auxiliary systems, delivering a complete modernization of the generating units.
Conclusion
The Buckingham project demonstrates how innovative hydraulic engineering can transform existing hydropower assets. By combining advanced hydraulic modelling with modern turbine technology, Litostroj more than doubled the plant's installed capacity without expanding the existing powerhouse. Operating reliably since 2019, Buckingham stands as a successful example of how modernization can unlock new value from century-old hydropower infrastructure.
