ABB has commissioned and started up the new hydroelectric power generator refurbishment line at its Ring Motor factory in Bilbao, Spain, located on a site that was previously known for its production of hydropower technologies. For customers, it means a new factory setup close to their own operations, a European facility to help them upgrade equipment at lifecycle milestones for the enhanced operational safety and performance of their plants.
The hydropower market in Europe is showing its ageing infrastructure, yet it is responsible for up to 20 % of the electricity produced in the region at around 260 GW of installed capacity. Generators such as hydroelectric dams are reaching their service lifetime of up to 30 years, with many showing signs of reduced performance, fluctuating efficiency and increasing maintenance costs. Modernisation programmes, including refurbishment and upgrades, are in demand, and ABB already has orders from Spain and Norway.
The use of modern materials and technologies should help reduce power losses from each generator, increasing the efficient rating compared to older models. For example, new stators designed and manufactured at the Bilbao factory will incorporate advanced manufacturing processes and technologies, including the Micadur insulation system for the stator bars. The project builds on the factory’s heritage as more than 240 hydroelectrical generators were produced at the site over the course of 90 years, under the ownership of ABB and previous companies. The new line will run alongside the manufacturing of ring motors for mining applications.
