Technology group Voith and the Spanish electricity generation company Iberdrola have signed a contract to modernize five pump turbines for the Spanish hydroelectric power plants Torrejón and Valdecañas located on the Tajo river.

For the Torrejón hydropower plant, Voith will supply two semi-axial pump turbines, each with an output of 43MW. The scope of supply includes the runners, guide vanes, turbine covers, shafts and bearings, as well as hydraulic and digital governors. As part of the modernisation, the plant will be converted to variable-speed operation and in addition, the head will be increased.

For the Valdecañas hydropower plant, Voith will supply three Deriaz pump turbines with an output of 83MW each. The scope of supply for this project includes the runners, parts of the control systems and the hydraulic governors.

In addition, both projects contain model acceptance tests, installation supervision and full commissioning of the turbines.

“By modernizing both hydropower plants, Voith is making an important contribution to a more flexible use of hydropower plants in the European power grid,” explains Quentin Seringe, sales and marketing manager at Voith Hydro.

“For the Valdecañas project, we are developing a Deriaz pump turbine that can be optimally used especially for small to medium heads. The Torrejón project also represents a special modernization project for Voith due to the speed variability and the increase in head while maintaining the same construction conditions,” adds Seringe.

The acceptance of the model tests in mid-2021 will mark the next important milestone for both projects. The first runners for the plants are to be delivered in the second half of 2022 and the last runners in mid-2024. The project will end with the commissioning of the plants scheduled for early 2025.

Due to the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire contract negotiations were conducted online from the home office by both parties and concluded at the end of July. This order strengthens the long-standing partnership between Voith and Iberdrola.