Voith has won an order for the supply and installation of a vertical Kaplan turbine rated 8.6 MW, together with all the electrical and hydromechanical ancillary equipment, at the new Vallabrègues small hydropower plant in southern France.
Voith will be working in co-operation with the French energy company Compagnie Nationale du Rhone. The total project duration will be about four years, with connection to the power grid scheduled for mid-2024. The decisive factor for the renewed co-operation was, among other factors, the two company’s partnership in creating the 6.6 MW Le Pouzin small hydropower plant, which was commissioned in 2017.
The new plant will be located near the city of Avignon on the river Rhone. Voith says it will be equipped with the most advanced electrotechnical equipment. Voith Hydro in Spain will be the supplier responsible for entire project execution, including the design and supply of the vertical Kaplan Turbine.
Despite the strict travel restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the complete contract negotiations were successfully conducted digitally. This approach will continue to be important during the construction work already underway to achieve the goals set together with the customer.
The commune of Vallabregues is located in the Occitanie region. Vallabrègues is the fifth new small hydropower plant on the river Rhone built by CNR, the first French provider of 100% renewable energy.
Linkedin
