Engineers at the Chirkey hydropower plant in Dagestan have installed a 617-tonne rotor in the facility’s third power unit, marking a stage in the station’s modernization program. The component, which has a diameter of nearly nine meters, was positioned using a bridge crane to replace equipment that has been in service for more than 50 years.
The new rotor features modified geometry and an expanded pole area. These design changes are intended to allow the unit to generate 10% more power than the previous model while utilizing the same volume of water. The installation is part of a broad upgrade launched in 2023 by the operator, RusHydro.
The modernization project includes the phased replacement of all four hydraulic units, power transformers, and auxiliary systems. All primary components are being manufactured within Russia, with turbines and generators provided by Silovye Mashiny.
Following the completion of the program, the total installed capacity of the Chirkey plant – the largest hydropower station in the North Caucasus – is expected to rise from 1,000 MW to 1,100 MW. This increase in the regional energy supply will be achieved through equipment efficiency improvements rather than the construction of new dams.
