| The utilization of hydro-energetic potential for electricity production has a long tradition in the countries of Eastern Europe and the CIS. It is estimated that more than 50 % of the existing facilities are past their intended lifetime. Due to ageing and wear, production drops and complete outage of the unit or plant threatens to occur any day.
To a large extent, the Eastern European countries are still dependent on fossil fuels and nuclear energy when it comes to electricity generation. Hydropower is an important energy source only in a few countries in Eastern Europe. With a few exceptions, development of new hydropower capacity is expected to remain fairly modest. Most of the growth will come from expansion and renovation of existing hydropower plants that need repair after years of economic difficulties. Still, there are opportunities for expanding hydroelectricity in countries where undeveloped potential sites exist.
In Russia, hydropower is back on the rise. Hydropower plays an important role in the country’s electricity supply. The power industry of the biggest country on earth includes 440 thermal and hydropower plants and 30 nuclear power plants. According to recent statistics, approximately 46 GW come from hydro, representing 21.05 % of Russia’s total installed capacity.
Voith Siemens Hydro has installed so far around 1,000 units with a total output of approximately 10,000 GW in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. |
