OREANDA-NEWS. June 19, 2012. Power Machines OJSC and RusHydro JSC have concluded a turnkey contract to replace 10 hydro turbines and 22 hydro generators at Volzhskaya HPP.

According to the terms of the contract, Power Machines are to provide the design, manufacturing, testing and delivery of 10 hydro turbines with the maximum capacity of 145 MW and 22 generators with the maximum capacity of 144.5 MW to Volzhskaya HPP. The contractual obligations of Power Machines comprise a full range of works, including manufacturing, dismantling of the old equipment and installation of the new one, installation supervision and commissioning services. The equipment deliveries are to start in 2013 and to be accomplished in 2021.

The long-term program of retrofitting and renovation of the existing equipment and hydraulic works of Volzhskaya HPP has been implemented at the plant since 2005. It is aimed at the complete replacement of the worn-out equipment with the modern one that meets the latest achievements in science and technology. Power Machines have already replaced 8 of the 22 hydro-turbines at Volzhskaya HPP.

At present Power Machines are fulfilling a contract signed with RusHydro JSC in 2010, according to which four hydro turbines with the maximum capacity of 145 MW will have been upgraded at Volzhskaya HPP by Q3 2013.

The equipment upgrade will allow to improve its reliability and performance significantly, as well as to increase the installed capacity of Volzhskaya HPP.

Volzhskaya HPP belonging to RusHydro JSC is the largest hydroelectric power plant of the Volga-Kama cascade and Europe. Its installed capacity amounts to 2.59 GW (2592.5 MW). The average annual electric power output is 11 billion kilowatt-hours. Volzhskaya HPP is designed to cover the peak of the load curve in the UES of Russia. When necessary, the hydroelectric power plant can significantly increase its electric power output in a few minutes, ensuring the system reliability of the country's UES.

The power generating facilities of Volzhskaya HPP consist of 23 hydro units produced by Power Machines of different capacity: 15 hydro units having a capacity of 115 MW, four 120 MW units, three 125.5 MW units and one 11 MW unit.

The construction of the hydroelectric system began in the 1950s. Its first unit was put into operation on December 22, 1958. On September 10, 1961 the government commission accepted Volzhskaya HPP into industrial operation.