Ready to generate electricity from Unit 1 of Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant expansion

These days, at the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant expansion site, engineers, staff, workers... are racing against time to put Unit 1 into operation as planned. During the implementation process, the project encountered many difficulties.

Engineers are installing the control system.

However, with the efforts of all departments, the project is ready to put unit 1 into operation, expected to generate electricity on August 19.

With a total investment of over VND9,200 billion, the project includes two units with a total capacity of 480 MW. When operational, the plant will supply the national grid with nearly 488 million kWh per year.

OVERCOMING THE SUN, OVERCOMING THE RAIN TO COMPLETE ON SCHEDULE

The project has a total investment of VND9,220 billion, with two units with a total capacity of 480 MW. The power line includes a channel leading to the water intake, a water tunnel and a hydroelectric plant. The reservoir, dam and spillway are shared with the existing works. When put into operation, the project will add about 488 million kWh of electricity to the system annually.

During the implementation of this project, EVN and the construction contractor encountered some difficulties such as: Construction of items on complex geological foundations, landslides occurred on the slope of the foundation pit; prices of materials, equipment, and labor increased sharply... Up to this point, major items have been shaped; hundreds of modern vehicles and machines operate continuously, coordinated smoothly according to the proposed progress chart.

According to the Power Project Management Board 1 (EVNPMB1), the representative unit of the investor, all items serving the water supply of the energy line have been completed, meeting the conditions to enter the trial operation phase. This is the result of more than four years of continuous construction, overcoming many difficulties in geology, weather and equipment supply.

The Hoa Binh Hydropower Expansion Project is built on the right side of the existing dam, independent of the old plant's items. The main items include: Water intake and inlet channel, vertical well, water inlet tunnel, drainage tunnel, hydropower plant and discharge channel. Up to now, all of these items have basically completed the construction, equipment installation and met the design requirements. The water intake has been constructed with reinforced concrete to a height of 122.5m, completed the installation of trash screen slots, operating valve gates, cranes and auxiliary equipment. The water inlet tunnel system is about 800m long, 11m in diameter, has been reinforced, installed with lining and covering steel, ensuring the design flow. The vertical well, drainage tunnel and expanded drainage tunnel have been completed, ready to conduct water.

READY TO CONNECT TO THE NATIONAL GRID

At the plant, Unit 1 has completed the installation of the vertical axis Francis turbine, generator, speed control system, 500 kV transformer and auxiliary systems. The voltage, GIS and IPB items are all in the testing and calibration phase. Unit 2 has reached about 90% of the installation volume.

According to experts, all materials and equipment used for the project are strictly inspected from the factory, transportation to installation. The quality of concrete, tunnel, steel structure and electromechanical equipment all meet design requirements. Monitoring and testing work is carried out continuously, showing that the project is stable, with no signs of abnormalities. In particular, the tunnel blasting process is closely monitored, the fluctuation parameters are always lower than the allowable limit, ensuring absolute safety for the existing project and the surrounding environment.

Mr. Bui Phuong Nam, Director of Power Project Management Board 1, shared that the unit has mobilized human resources, equipment, and applied flexible technical measures to ensure progress while maintaining quality and safety. The spirit is not to back down in the face of any difficulties, to complete the goal of generating electricity on time.

Mr. Truong Cong Hung, safety supervisor engineer of contractor LILAMA 10, said that the teams work in shifts, and everyone strictly follows safety measures. Every morning, the management staff disseminates safety information and strictly follows the regulations set forth by the management board and the investor. During the construction process, no serious occupational safety accidents occurred.

The Hoa Binh Hydropower Expansion Project has an installed capacity of 2x240 MW. When completed, it will add about 480 MW to the national power system, improve water regulation capacity, and reduce operating pressure for the old plant. This is an important project not only in terms of economics and technology, but also has special political significance as it is associated with the country's historical milestone. With the current progress, after filling the energy line with water, Unit 1 will be tested and generate commercial electricity on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution. Unit 2 is expected to complete generating electricity in December 2025.

Article and photos: TRAN HAO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/san-sang-phat-dien-to-may-so-1-nha-may-thuy-dien-hoa-binh-mo-rong-post901138.html