A 240MW turbine built by GE Hydro Solutions passed an acceptance test at its hydraulic laboratory in Grenoble, France, marking a key milestone in the expansion of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant under a contract between GE Hydro Solutions and Vietnam Electricity (EVN).
In a consortium with CMEC (China Machinery Engineering Corporation), GE Hydro Solutions will supply all electrical and mechanical equipment including two 240MW turbines, generator sets, control and protection systems, and all accessories and auxiliary systems.
The turbine model successfully met all technical criteria required by EVN, ensuring delivery of the project on schedule.
The strategic expansion is under the responsibility of EVN's Power Projects Management Board No.1 and is expected to increase the installed capacity of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant up to 480MW and raise electricity generation up to 264.4 million kWh per year at peak times during the dry season.
The project will likewise help extend the life of the equipment and reduce maintenance and operating costs of the power plant. When the extension is completed in 2025, the maximum electricity generation output of the dam will be 2,400MW.
The Hoa Binh expansion project has a key role to play in meeting Viet Nam's growing energy demand. The project aims to optimise hydropower to increase electricity production, and to improve the supply and stability of the electricity system.
The new units will contribute to replacing fossil fuel production, thus avoiding the release of some 225,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions into the atmosphere.
"With the Hoa Binh expansion, we are making a significant contribution to making electricity in Viet Nam more affordable, reliable, accessible and sustainable," said Brian Selby, general manager for GE Hydro in Asia.
In addition to the Hoa Binh expansion project, GE Hydro Solutions has already been involved in the realisation of the Son La Power Plant (2,400MW), the largest hydropower plant in Southeast Asia, and was also involved in the Lai Chau Power Plant (1,200MW), the Huoi Quang Power Plant (520MW) and others. — VNS