Ukrhydroenergo

History

2024: Russian army strikes during conflict in Ukraine stop DneproHPP

DneproHPP is two independent hydroelectric power plants on the Dnieper River connected by a common dam.

DneproHPP-1 on the west bank has 9 hydrogenerators with a total capacity of about 650 MW. Each generator is connected to the power system through its own generator transformer (it increases the voltage by 10-15 times for more profitable transmission of electricity over long distances).

DneproHPP-2 on the eastern shore has 8 hydrogenerators with a total capacity of about 820 MW. A feature of the GES-2 is that not one, but a pair of generators is connected to each generator transformer.

Together, these hydroelectric power plants were Ukraine's most powerful hydroelectric power station until March 22, 2024, when Russia launched missile attacks on the power plant during the armed conflict between the countries. DneproHPP stopped work. The general director of Ukrhydroenergo hastened to declare that the restoration will take "not months, but years."

One of the most important functions of hydroelectric power stations in the country's power system is to cover peak consumption loads. A properly operating hydroelectric power station is able to turn on at full capacity in a matter of minutes, and turn off just as quickly. In the conditions of the gradual destruction of the power system of Ukraine, each hydroelectric power station is a critical element, wrote "Rybar."

The GES-1 engine room was already hit several times on December 16, 2022, and its switchgear even earlier, in October 2022.

As a result:

• one of the nine generator transformers burned down - this means that electricity from one generator has ceased to flow into the network,
• in the GES-1 turbine hall, one out of nine hydrogenerator was damaged - within three weeks, until it was repaired, it generated electricity,
• the second hydrogenerator at the time of the impact was in long-term repair and in any case did not generate electricity,
• during the strike on March 22, 2024, an explosive wave tore the wires of high-voltage overhead lines, which caused circuits in the turbine hall itself and on one of the nine generator transformers behind its wall - which means that the energy of one of the hydrogenerators will not be able to be transmitted to the power grid if even it itself will work.

The GES-2 engine room was first severely damaged on impact on March 22 this year.

As a result:

• three of the four generator transformers were destroyed, as well as all the equipment of the 154 kV open switchgear - which made it impossible to transmit the generated electricity and distribute it to the power grid,

the explosion and subsequent fire severely damaged six of the eight hydrogenerators - that is, most of the generator power GES-2,

• the mashzal itself, with the exception of the eastern part, and the equipment in it is practically destroyed,
• two spans of crane tracks for a gantry crane at the top of the dam were destroyed - with the help of this crane, hydraulic locks are opened and closed, so the discharge of water from the reservoir is regulated. These failures resulted in the loss of the ability to open/close approximately 40% of the hydraulic locks of the eastern part of the dam. Nevertheless, the ability to partially regulate the discharge has remained: three spillways operate at the hydroelectric dam.

As a result, the blow on March 22, 2024 completely disabled DneproHPP-2, most of the generator power was lost. The remaining part due to damage to auxiliary equipment and switchgear will not be able to be put into operation soon.

In the pictures of DneproHPP-1, damage is not noticeable, but the equipment in the turbine hall and behind its wall was still partially damaged. Nevertheless, the damage to the GES-1 was minor, and after the repair of equipment and the restoration of overhead communication lines with the DneproHPP-1 substation, it is possible to relatively quickly return to work.

1941: Explosion of the Dnieper hydroelectric power station during the retreat of Soviet troops

On August 18, 1941, during World War II, after the breakthrough of German troops in the Zaporozhye region, the DneproHPP dam was blown up. The undermining was carried out at the direction of the Soviet leadership, according to the order of the General Staff.

Explosion of 20 tons of ammonal partially destroyed the DneproHPP dam

1932

Colonel Hugh Cooper from the US Army Corps of Engineers, poses against the background of the Dnieper Hydroelectric Dam, which he helped build as the chief engineer invited by the Soviet government.