GE Renewable Energy has signed a contract with PGE Odnawialna to replace the four 125MW pumped turbines and generators of the Porabka Zar hydro storage plant in Poland.
The upgrade aims to extend the lifetime of the hydropower plant for several decades by replacing the +40-year-old turbines with new, reliable and high efficiency pumped turbines and motor generators.
Porabka Zar is the second largest pumped storage power plant in Poland with an installed capacity of 500MW.
The commercial operation of the four units is expected beginning of 2028.
GE Hydro Solutions will be responsible for the design, manufacturing and supply of the new equipment as well as the excitation and governing systems.
GE 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 by new ones specially designed for Porabka Zar.
Due to the confined workspace and technology used, the cutting and welding processes will be specific to this project.
“This rehabilitation project is the first large-scale rehabilitation project of its kind in Poland in 40 years,” said president and chief executive of GE’s Hydro Solutions Pascal Radue.
“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.
“This new equipment will help increase the flexibility and reliability of the plant and consequently stabilise the grid in the country.”