ABB is partnering power plant engineering company Power Machines in two hydropower plant projects in Latvia, providing complete electrical and control solutions for Power Machine turbines and generators.
ABB and power plant engineering company Power Machines have joined forces to win two hydropower plant contracts in Latvia.
Most of Latvia’s electricity is generated at four hydropower plants – Plavinas (the second largest hydropower plant in the European Union), Riga and Kegums 1 and 2. With three of these plants in need of modernization, Power Machines and ABB combined their offerings and expertise to win two turnkey orders for these two important projects.
The most extensive of the two projects is a $65 million refurbishment of the two plants at Kegums, one of which (Kegums 2) was built 75 years ago. Within the project framework Power Machines is to supply three 78 megawatt (MW) hydropower turbines as well as equipment to renovate three hydro generators at Kegums 2, while ABB is supplying a complete integrated electrical and automation solution for the entire Kegums 2 plant. ABB is also supplying instrumentation and a distributed control system for Kegums 1, which was built in the 1970s.
Power Machines and ABB have also been appointed to modernize two of the 10 units at the Plavinas hydropower plant. Power Machines is overhauling two hydropower units and supplying a turbine and generator for each unit, while ABB is supplying a complete integrated electrical and automation solution and will upgrade the two existing ABB distributed control systems.
“ABB is one of the few global power and automation companies that can partner an independent manufacturer of turbines and generators like Power Machines,” says Massimo Danieli, managing director of ABB’s power generation business, a part of the company’s Power Systems division. “Our brand reputation, global footprint and ability to supply complete and fully integrated electrical and control solutions provide Power Machines with a unique competitive advantage.”
Power Machines is the largest power plant engineering company in Russia, providing design, manufacture and delivery of equipment for thermal, nuclear, hydraulic and gas-turbine power plants. The equipment manufactured and supplied by the company generates more than 300,000 MW of power in 57 countries worldwide.
ABB’s power generation business provides complete, integrated and optimized electrical and control solutions for all types of conventional and renewable power plants. ABB has been active in the hydropower industry for more than 125 years and has one of the largest installed bases of power and automation solutions in the hydropower sector.