What is a hydropower plant?

Hydropower plants (or hydroelectric power plants) generate electricity using the energy of moving water, typically from rivers or dams. It is a renewable, reliable, and sustainable energy source that plays a key role in the global energy mix

Why do hydro plants need integrated controls?

Integrated controls are essential for hydropower plants to ensure safe, efficient, and stable operation. They enable real-time monitoring, automation, and optimization of all plant processes, helping operators maximize output, minimize downtime, and comply with regulatory and cybersecurity requirements.

Can Siemens Energy controls be integrated with existing hydro plants?

Yes, our modular systems are designed for both new installations and modernization of existing plants, ensuring smooth integration and minimal downtime.

How does digitalization improve hydropower plant performance?

Digital Twin technology and predictive analytics enable real-time optimization, higher efficiency, and proactive maintenance.

Are Siemens Energy’s hydropower controls compliant with cybersecurity standards?

Absolutely. Our solutions meet global standards such as NIS, NERC, and KRITIS, ensuring secure and resilient operations.

Powering a sustainable future with Siemens Energy hydropower solutions

Climate change and rising energy demand are reshaping the energy landscape. Utilities and operators worldwide face the challenge of delivering reliable, eco-friendly power solutions while maintaining profitability and grid stability.

Hydropower, when implemented correctly, offers a unique combination of sustainability, cost-efficiency, and system reliability—making it a cornerstone of tomorrow’s energy mix. It not only supports renewable integration but also ensures long-term energy security. By converting the natural flow of water into electricity, hydropower provides clean, flexible, and locally available power that supports energy independence.

Siemens Energy helps unleash this potential. With advanced technologies and decades of expertise, Siemens Energy enables future-proof hydropower solutions that operate efficiently and competitively. The Siemens Energy approach ensures optimized performance, reduced lifecycle costs, and compliance with global sustainability standards—making hydropower an investment that truly pays off.

Siemens Energy has demonstrated its core competences in hydropower, in both water to wire solutions and plant modernizations, in more than 1,000 hydro plants worldwide. Siemens Energy’s hydro expertise ranges from engineering, supply, installation and commissioning to service. Hydropower plants from Siemens Energy today supply more than 5,000 megawatts electrical power worldwide. We are the reliable partner for integrated and customized hydro turnkey solutions - worldwide and close to home.

The hydropower plant system is composed of specifically designed and harmonized components. As a tailor-made solution it aims to fulfill customers’ requirements. To achieve the targeted performance of the plant, the overall process control system optimally manages the interaction of the components. It offers numerous ways to select modes, to switch between states and to prioritize operational aspects also dynamically.

Omnivise Hybrid Controler to maxime plant efficience. The image shows energy landscape with hydropower, renewables and grid

Real-time coordination of hydropower, renewables, and storage systems
Advanced automation for flexible, reliable, and efficient hydro plant operation
Centralized monitoring, dispatch, and optimization of water-to-wire processes
Grid services support, including frequency and voltage regulation
Scalable architecture for single plants or multi-site hydro fleets
Built-in cybersecurity and compliance with industry standards

With Omnivise Hybrid Control, hydropower operators can maximize plant efficiency, respond quickly to grid demands, and future-proof their operations for the evolving energy market.

New Hydropower Plants: Siemens Energy delivers turnkey automation and controls for new hydro plants, ensuring reliable operation from day one.

Modernization and Upgrades: Extend the life and efficiency of existing plants with digital retrofits, advanced controls, and performance optimization.

Hybrid and Storage Integration: Combine hydropower with renewables and storage for flexible, decarbonized energy systems managed by unified controls.

Fleet and Multi-Plant Management: Centralize monitoring and optimization across multiple hydro assets using scalable, digital platforms.

Originally commissioned in 1910 Siemens Energy modernized the plant in 2001 and supplied the complete control system including turbine automation for the optimal operation of the three units.
A monitor control room with remote controlling, hazard alert and recording enables smooth and secure plant operation.
With a power output of 2.4 megawatts, the plant can generate approximately 20 million kWh each year and thus supply electricity to 5,000 homes.

High availability in start-ups and operation - The challange was, to fit the entire project into a cave that is almost 500 meter deep and accessed only by a tunnel of two kilometer length.
The Siemens Energy expertise ensures a perfectly fit electrical solution.
Two variable speed pumped turbines, curently the biggest of ist kind, delivered from Voith Hydro (a Voith and Siemens Energy Company)

Water flow image. A EDP unit in Picote II, Portugal

Original scheme was designed about 50 years ago with nowadays considered low flows causing increased spillage during wet season. In order to harness this "lost" water the customer EdP decided to add one complete new unit with ca. 400 m3 flow per second.
Flexibility and experience of Siemens Energy project team ensured fast response to customer’s request
One new Francis turbine delivered from Voith Hydro (a Voith and Siemens Energy Company)

Hydropower plant image, Klimatia hydro plant

Siemens Energy delivered a complete customized turnkey solution and was responsible for engineering, supply, assembly and commissioning of the plant.
Siemens Energy’s scope of supply included the turbines, generators, and complete electrical equipment as well the entire plant control system.
Due to state-of–the-art technology, the plant achieved very high efficiency and reliability, making it a cost-efficient investment.

Hydropower plant image, Dientenbach hydro plant

Siemens Energy delivered a complete customized turnkey solution and was responsible for engineering, supply, assembly and commissioning of the plant.
Siemens Energy’s scope of supply included turbines, generators, switchgear, transformers, and switchboards as well as a control system with redundant Profibus coupling via ethernet.
The plant now enables its operator to produce very cost-competitive environmental friendly, renewable energy.

power plant interior, with assets; Belver Portugal

Siemens Energy employee that support customers with its expertise

Siemens Energy combines over a century of hydropower expertise with global project experience, advanced digitalization, and a strong commitment to cybersecurity and future-ready solutions. Our key strengths include:

Deep know-how in hydro automation and digitalization
Modular, scalable, and customizable solutions
Seamless integration with third-party and hybrid systems
Robust cybersecurity and secure architectures

Siemens Energy delivers reliable, efficient, and secure hydropower solutions, ensuring seamless integration and long-term value, now and in the future.

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Hydropower solutions: smart and ecofriendly

Integrated hydropower solutions – from water to wire

What sets us apart

Digitalization and optimization for hydropower

Key facts

Hydro Optimizer

Omnivise Hybrid Control for hydropower

Key features and advantages for hydropower

Hydropower use cases

Hydropower solution highlights

Power for 5,000 homes

Integration and regulation of intermitting energy sources

Reduction of “unused” water flows

A cost-efficient investment

Cost competitive hydropower

Replacement of existing technology

Siemens Energy as a partner

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Brochure “Comprehensive solutions”

Flyer “Small hydro solution Sipocon-H”

Flyer “Sipocon-H Optimizer”

Get answers: FAQs on Hydropower

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