Alstom signs agreement to modernise the Kubansky Cascade hydropower plant complex in Russia

Alstom Hydro France, Alstom Russia and the Russian United Energy-Construction Corporation (OEK) signed today an agreement with RusHydro, Russias largest hydro power generation company, to modernise the Cascade of Kubansky hydropower plants in Russia. The agreement follows an earlier Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed between Alstom and RusHydro in December 2010.

Alstom will carry out the rehabilitation of electro and hydro mechanical equipment as well as install a new instrumentation & control system. Its partner OEK will be responsible for all civil works.

A feasibility study will define the necessary work to be performed. The rehabilitation project may take between six to ten years. Part of the equipment to modernise the Cascade of Kubansky hydropower plants could be provided by the joint hydropower manufacturing facility to be built by RusHydro and Alstom in Ufa City, in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia. The respective agreement was signed on 11th February 2011 in Ufa. The factory will be oriented to production of hydrogenerating equipment for small hydropower plants, as well equipment for Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Condition monitoring systems, Excitation Systems for hydro generators and integrated site security systems. In perspective, the enterprise will be producing also equipment for medium HPP, and pumped storage power plants.

The Kubansky Cascade hydropower plant complex, RusHydros subsidiary situated at the Kuban River (South of Russia) and extending for 235 km, includes eight hydro power plants and one pumped storage power plant, with a total original capacity of over 460 MW. The modernization by Alstom could ensure a capacity increase from 10% to 20% (up to 550 MW).

Philippe Joubert, President of Alstom Power, said: The length of our reference list, the range of our product and service portfolio and the reach of our global organisation means Alstom can refurbish any hydropower plant, anywhere. Alstom is the world leader in hydropower having installed around 25% of total global hydropower capacity. Record-breaking hydropower plants like The Three Gorges in China, La Grande in Canada and Itaipu in Brazil all use Alstoms technology. And now Alstom has chosen the strongest local partner to bring its frontline technologies to Russia.

Although hydropower currently makes up only 20% of the countrys total electricity supply, Russia has 102 hydro power plants with the total installed capacity of 45 GW, the fifth largest in the world. Russia has a total installed base of 600 power plants of varying fuel types representing an installed capacity of 220,000 MW, of which 20% hydro, 11% nuclear and 66% thermal.
 

About Alstom:
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 93,500 people in around 100 countries, and had sales of over 20.9 billion Euros in 2010/11.
 

About RusHydro:
JSC RusHydro is Russias largest power generating company, with 68 renewable energy source (RES) facilities. The Companys total installed capacity is 26.1 GWt, including 6,400 MWt at the P.S. Neporozhniy Sayano-Shushenskya HPP, which is currently being restored. JSC RusHydro is a leader in energy production using renewable energy sources, including: water flows, sea tides, wind and geo-thermal energy.

About United Energy-Construction Corporation (OEK):
OEK is a Russian holding performing civil and erection works for power generation facilities. The company includes 12 subsidiairies covering all types of activities from engineering to construction. OEK is carrying out projects on various power sites for the hydro, thermal and nuclear sector all over Russia.

Press contacts:

Yulia Tikhonova
Tel. : +7 495 2312949
E.mail : yulia.tikhonova@crn.alstom.com

Susanne Shields
Tel: +33 1 41 49 27 22
Email: susanne.shields@power.alstom.com