Andritz secures contract to modernise hydropower plants in Switzerland

Andritz Hydro has secured a contract from Kraftwerke Oberhasli to modernise Innertkirchen 1 and Handeck 2 hydropower stations in Switzerland.

As per the contract, Andritz Hydro will supply, install and commission two vertical, six-jet Pelton turbines with an output of 150MW and 90MW, respectively.

The company will also supply one synchronous generator with an output of 165 megavolt-amperes, including additional equipment.

Both power plants are expected to be commissioned in 2016.

The upgrade of power plants will add a further 70GWh of energy per year, enough to meet the needs of over 14,000 homes in the region.

The modernisation will also increase the overall output of both the hydropower plants by 280MW to reach 670MW.

Andritz Hydro said by building a second head race, the flow rate of the water and the friction losses in the pressure pipes will be reduced.

The company noted that more energy can be generated from the water volume used in both power stations, while a new return water reservoir will upgrade the plant to provide ecological benefits.

Kraftwerke Oberhasli operates 26 units in nine hydropower plants and provides an output of about 2,350GWh, representing around 7% of the total output from all hydropower plants in Switzerland.

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Image: The River Aar near Innertkirchen, Switzerland. Image: Courtesy of Falk Lademann.