Markland Hydro Station Generates More Clean Energy After Upgrades

Duke Energy’s power plant on the Ohio River in Indiana increased output by 10%

Published 05-27-22

Submitted by Duke Energy

aerial view of hydroelectric dam on a river

By McKenzie Barbknecht illumination Contributor

Upgrades at Duke Energy’s Markland Hydroelectric Station near Florence, Ind., increased the plant’s clean, renewable energy output by about 10% and will improve reliability for customers during the next 40 years.

Markland Hydroelectric Station can now generate up to 65 megawatts of renewable, carbon-free energy, depending on the flow of the river, which is enough to power 52,000 homes. The plant’s annual energy output increased by 39 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year.

“The low-cost, carbon-free power generated at Markland Hydro Station is an important piece of our diversified portfolio of generation sources,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “By embracing new advancements in technology and innovation, we’re able to expand clean energy production for our customers while also maintaining the reliable service they expect.”

Markland Hydroelectric Station began operating on the Ohio River in 1967. It was the first nongovernmental hydroelectric station built on the river. Upgrades like those at Markland are a key piece of Duke Energy’s transition to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Since 2005, the company has decreased sulfur dioxide emissions in Indiana by 96%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 73% and carbon emissions by 42%.

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large industrial tank in a cement room — This is Markland’s generator floor. Upgrades included replacing turbine runner hubs and runner blades with a more efficient design, and replacing discharge rings, wicket gates, generator rewinds, generator excitation controls and relay protection, station controls, intake and draft tube gates and the main power transformer. Crews also overhauled the high- and low-voltage electrical distribution systems.

workers surround a large rotor inside a huge complex — Workers inspect a rotor on generator 2.

close up of the center of a turbine wheel pit — Hydro turbine wheel pit. The river’s current pushes against and turns the runner blades of the three hydroelectric turbines housed inside a 150-foot-high concrete dam that spans the river. Each turbine weighs about 180 tons, and each blade is 27 feet in length. The movement of the turbines spins a generator shaft that produces electricity.

a worker climbing stairs that lead to a walkway over a large turbine — The generator exciter. Work on the project started in 2017 and took 4 1/2 years to complete. It cost about $152 million, well within the company’s cost estimate.

aerial view of an industrial overhead crane. a river in the background — Overhead crane and main power transformer. The elevated bridge on the right crosses over the Ohio River and connects Indiana S.R. 156 with U.S. 42 in Kentucky.

old aerial photo of a river with a dam across it. a building on the distant hill. — The view in 1923. The concrete Markland locks and dam span the Ohio River at 1,395 feet and connect Gallatin County, Ky., and Switzerland County, Ind. During the next 20 years, Duke Energy plans to add about 4,525 megawatts of solar power, 400 megawatts of energy storage and 2,800 megawatts of wind energy, in addition to cleaner natural gas generation.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Markland Hydro Station Generates More Clean Energy After Upgrades

Markland Hydro Station Generates More Clean Energy After Upgrades

Duke Energy

Duke Energy

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