The extensive refurbishment of the Đerdap 1 hydropower plant in. Serbia has been successfully completed, heralding a significant increase in capacity for Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS). Acceptance tests are currently underway, with power system synchronization and connection anticipated to be finalized no later than mid-November.
The last revamped unit, A3, had its inaugural rotation, signalling the completion of the modernization project. Now, with all six units upgraded and more powerful, the Đerdap 1 hydropower plant is well-positioned to tap into the complete potential of the Danube River.
Đerdap 1 has stood as a source of pride in the Serbian hydropower industry for over five decades, and following this successful refurbishment, its significance is expected to extend for the next 30 to 40 years. The project has yielded an increased capacity, reduced maintenance requirements, and decades of reliable service, according to Dušan Živković, the acting general manager of Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), who expressed his satisfaction after inspecting the completed works.
As a result of the Đerdap 1 refurbishment, the combined capacity of its six generators has been elevated to 1140MW. Furthermore, by enhancing the nominal active power of each generator from 171 to 190MW, EPS has effectively gained the equivalent of a new 100MW power plant.
“We will continue with hydropower plant refurbishments in the coming period, with the most significant projects including the modernization of Vlasina hydropower plants, Bistrica HPP, Potpeć, and Đerdap 2," Živković stated. He also noted the European Union's recognition of the importance of EPS's hydropower plant refurbishments, revealing that EPS had been awarded a EUR 49 million grant through the Western Balkan Investments Framework (WBIF) to support four renewable energy projects. A substantial portion of these funds, amounting to EUR 16.1 million, is designated for the refurbishment of Vlasina hydropower plants.
Đerdap 1 HPP stands as the largest hydropower plant within the Elektroprivreda Srbije system and contributes approximately half of the total electricity generated from the hydropower plant sector of EPS. The comprehensive refurbishment of Đerdap 1 HPP was undertaken by technical teams from Elektroprivreda Srbije, Đerdap HPP, experts from local scientific institutions, and the Russian company Silovije mašini. Unit A3, in operation for over 51 years, was halted on September 1, 2022.
The modernization project involved the installation of cutting-edge equipment from domestic and international manufacturers, with the main equipment supplier being the Russian company Silovije mašini from Saint Petersburg. Some noteworthy components of the project include a 610-ton rotor for the main generator, measuring 14.15m in diameter, and a 350-ton, six-bladed runner. The refurbishment also encompassed the installation of approximately 40km of power and signal cables in each unit.
Vrious contractors, such as Đerdap 1 HPP, Goša montaža, Đerdap usluge, ATB Sever from Subotica, Jadran, Kolubara Metal, as well as experts from the Nikola Tesla and Mihajlo Pupin institutes were involved in the project, and metal component inspections were conducted by the Materials Testing Institute from Belgrade.
Vladan Živanović and Miodrag Ranković, members of the Supervisory Board of EPS, along with executive directors, conducted an extensive tour of the accomplished works at the Đerdap 1 HPP.
