Voith selected to overhaul three Italian hydropower plants

Modernization of long-standing hydropower plants will ensure smooth operation for years to come.

Voith Hydro has been chosen to overhaul three hydropower plants in Italy: the “Alessandro Volta” plant in Castel Madama, Rome province; Pompegnino, in the province of Brescia; and Pont St. Martin, Aosta. The contract is valued at approximately 16 million Euros.

The modernization projects will safeguard 13 megawatts of renewable capacity to the Italian grid for many decades in the future. Among the specifics: For ACEA S.p.A., Voith will modernize the Alessandro Volta plant, which which went to the grid first in 1915. For this project, Voith will supply the complete equipment for the two power generating units (4.5 and 2.7 megawatts, respectively).

The two remaining modernization projects have been awarded by BKW Italia S.p.A., member of the BKW Group, one of Switzerland’s largest energy companies. The ‘Pompegnino’ project will have its two vertical Kaplan-turbines overhauled. Moreover, Voith will supply new generators and hydraulic governors, among other critical components.  

 

For the Pont St. Martin plant, Voith will replace the four horizontal Francis units with one new vertical seven-bladed Kaplan turbine (3 MW) unit and one horizontal Francis machine (600 kilowatts). The equipment had been generating electricity since 1932. Similar to the Pompegnino project, Voith will supply includes turbines, generators and hydraulic governors, among other parts.

According to Voith, modernization and overhaul will allow these three plants to generate electricity from renewable sources for decades.