RusHydro and the System Operator of the United Energy System have launched Russia’s first remote control center for a hydropower cascade in the Karachay-Cherkessia region. The facility provides centralized management for the Krasnogorskaya, Pravokubanskaya, and Ust-Dzhegutinskaya power plants, which have a combined capacity of 55.4 megawatts. Operations are conducted from a technical hub at the Zelenchukskaya station, though commands can also be issued directly by the North Caucasus dispatch office.
The project follows a 2022 pilot program at the Zaragizhskaya plant and established the basis for a national standard for remote hydropower management. To facilitate the transition, the three involved plants were equipped with updated communication systems and automated control processes. These technical upgrades are designed to enable the eventual operation of the facilities without a constant on-site staff presence.
The new management structure integrates energy production data with regional water inflow and demand requirements. Automated systems receive generation targets directly from the national grid operator and adjust loads without manual intervention. This shift to digital administration aims to reduce the time required for command execution and routine switching, while improving response times to system fluctuations.
RusHydro plans to expand this remote management model to other regions in the North Caucasus. New centers are currently under development to manage six plants in Kabardino-Balkaria and two facilities in Chechnya. The power company intends to eventually apply these remote operation standards to its thermal power generation assets across the country.
