OREANDA-NEWS. November 30, 2012. Hydropower unit No. 8, where the hydraulic turbine was replaced, has been put into operation after its reconstruction at an affiliate of RusHydro OJSC – Volzhskaya HPP. The new turbine has enhanced technical characteristics and improved capacity, which will allow to increase the plant’s installed capacity in the future.

Power Machines OJSC has performed the design, manufacture, testing, supply, construction and erection works, installation supervision and commissioning of hydroturbine No. 8 as per the contract. This is the second of four turbines which has been reconstructed under the long-term contract concluded between RusHydro and Power Machines. One more new turbine is to be put into operation till the end of this year. It will be the 11th hydroturbine in succession which has been replaced by Power Machines.

The reconstruction of the hydropower unit began in June 2011. The equipment renovation was carried out in accordance with a Program for Comprehensive Upgrade (PCU) implemented by RusHydro. The PCU is aimed at complete replacement of the existing equipment with modern and state-of-the-art one. The program is to be implemented till 2025. All the 22 hydroturbines are to be replaced by this time.

The reconstruction and upgrade of the equipment will allow to significantly improve its reliability and performance, as well as to raise the installed capacity of Volzhskaya HPP above its design value (2541 MW) by 198.5 MW. As a result, the plant’s installed capacity will amount to 2739.5 MW by 2021.