More power from the Mississippi river: upgrading the ford hydroelectric station

The Ford Hydroelectric Project was constructed in 1924 to provide economical power for a vehicle assembly plant. After many decades, electrical demand had increased and the original units were unable to generate at rated capacity. Ford initiated a multi-year upgrade and refurbishment program that included new Francis runners and other improvements. This program was creatively cost-justified and successfully implemented in the industrial sector. Many challenges were encountered, but the investment has been rewarded with increased capacity and energy production. The lessons learned during this program will be of interest to others who are planning to rehabilitate or upgrade older hydropower facilities.