GE Renewable Energy has announced a new contract with PGE Odnawialna to replace the four 125MW pumped turbines and generators of the Porabka Zar hydro storage plant in Poland. The upgrade will ensure the longevity of the hydropower plant for several decades by replacing the more than 40-year-old turbines with new, reliable, and high-efficiency models.
Porabka Zar, the second-largest pumped storage power plant in Poland with an installed capacity of 500MW, will have its commercial operation of the four units expected to begin at the start of 2028.
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The rehabilitation project will be led by GE Hydro Solutions, who will be responsible for the design, manufacturing, and supply of the new equipment, as well as the excitation and governing systems. The company will also supervise the erection and commissioning of the four new units and will replace the existing stay rings, as well as the existing stay vanes, with new ones specially designed for Porabka Zar.
The upgrade project will require specific cutting and welding processes due to the confined workspace and technology used. GE Renewable Energy's president and chief executive of Hydro Solutions, Pascal Radue, expressed excitement about being part of the first large-scale rehabilitation project of its kind in Poland in 40 years.
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“We are delighted to be part of it and support PGE Odnawialna in this upgrade process. This demonstrates that Poland makes every effort to achieve the Net Zero goal by 2050,” he added.
The new equipment is expected to increase the flexibility and reliability of the plant, resulting in a more stable grid for the country. The project is a significant step towards achieving Poland's ambitious climate goals while also improving the country's energy infrastructure.
