Port of Montreal commissions new electrical substation
The Port of Montreal has officially commissioned its new electrical substation, a significant achievement that marks the completion of a crucial phase in the broader CanEst Yard redevelopment project. This new facility, brought online after two years of construction, represents a substantial upgrade to the port’s aging electrical infrastructure.
The project involved relocating the former substation from the CanEst Yard to Yard 42. This strategic move not only liberates valuable operational space but also modernizes essential services. The total cost for this initiative was CA$13 million, coming in under the initial budget of CA$14.7 million.
The newly operational Substation 3 boasts a distribution capacity of 15.6 MVA. It is engineered to power a significant portion of the port, encompassing sections 24 through 51, extending from the Berri entrance to Sicard Street. This infrastructure will supply electricity to both port buildings and vessels along this extensive waterfront.
Key technical features of Substation 3 include a 25 kV auxiliary room fed by dual Hydro-Québec connections, 25 kV switchgear located on the ground floor, and 12.5 kV switchgear on the upper floor. The installation is further enhanced by eleven vacuum circuit breakers, two capacitor banks, and a SCADA cabinet for robust operational monitoring and control.
Throughout the construction period, the primary challenge was ensuring an uninterrupted power supply to the port. Maintaining continuous service delivery was identified as the paramount operational constraint guiding the project’s execution.
With a total electrical network comprising seven substations, the Port of Montreal recognizes the critical importance of reliability and modernization. These ongoing efforts are essential for sustaining seamless port operations across all serviced territories.