GE Vernova’s Hydro Power business completes first unit upgrade at Qairokkum, Tajikistan

GE Vernova's Hydro Power division has successfully completed the upgrade of the initial Kaplan turbine and generator unit out of six at the Qairokkum hydropower plant in Tajikistan.

After the refurbishment process, the 21 MW unit has been enhanced to reach a capacity of 29 MW and is now integrated into the power grid. Each of the six refurbished units will witness an increase in output from 21 MW to 29 MW, consequently elevating the total capacity of the plant to 174 MW.

This hydroelectric plant, which has been in operation for over six decades along the Syr Darya River, holds the distinction of being the sole power generation facility in Tajikistan's northwestern Sughd province. It serves as the primary source of electricity for approximately 500,000 residents in the province. The refurbishment endeavors will not only extend the plant's lifespan but also amplify its ability to provide cleaner and more sustainable energy to Tajikistan.

In collaboration with Barki Tojik, GE was selected to overhaul the six Kaplan units at the government-owned Qairokkum hydropower plant. The comprehensive project encompasses the modernization of all six turbines and generators, along with certain aspects of the balance of plant and on-site supervision for the equipment supplied. Leading the consortium, GE Vernova, together with Cobra (a division of ACS Group, a Spanish company), is spearheading the refurbishment of the Qairokkum hydropower plant. The plant is slated for full modernization by mid-2025.

With 90% of Tajikistan's electricity being generated from hydropower, it is imperative to adapt both existing and new hydropower assets to meet future operational demands. Qairokkum was chosen as a pilot project to demonstrate how a plant can enhance its performance through rehabilitation. Thanks to improved turbine designs, the plant will not only increase energy production but also address fluctuations in water flow within the region.

Bodo Mayer, Hydro Power EMEA Leader at GE Vernova, expressed, "The efforts in Tajikistan to bolster the resilience of hydropower plants against climate change are pivotal for the future of our industry and the global energy transition we all endorse. We are immensely proud to be part of this project and celebrate the successful rehabilitation of the first unit. This substantial capacity boost sets the stage for even greater clean energy production as we work towards bringing the remaining five units online."

Hydropower projects are engineered to operate over the long term, making them enduring sources of renewable energy that will benefit multiple generations. With regular maintenance, a typical hydropower facility can operate for more than a century without the need for dam reconstruction.

Source: ge.com