Small hydro power

Siemens has over
-
of experience in hydro power.

Small Hydro Sipocon-H Optimizer
The hydro power 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.
The global climate change calls for new and more ecofriendly methods of power generation. At the same time, each power plant investment must pay itself off within a certain period of time. Using the enormous power of water - one of mankind’s oldest ideas for power conversion - can combine both ecofriendly and economic power generation. State-of-the-art, small hydro power plant technology from Siemens helps to unleash this potential and enables a climate-neutral power generation to invest and operate competitively.
Siemens has demonstrated its core competences in hydro power, in both water to wire solutions and plant modernizations, in more than 1,000 small hydro plants worldwide. Siemens’ small hydro expertise ranges from engineering, supply, installation and commissioning to service. Small hydro power plants from Siemens today supply more than 5,000 megawatts electrical power worldwide. We are the reliable partner for integrated and customized small hydro turnkey solutions.
What Siemens can offer:
- Water to wire solutions for small hydro power plants
- Customized design and engineering according to individual needs
- Modernization and service of existing plants with minimized production losses
- Local support, maintenance, and service for highest availability
- Highest degree of operational safety and efficiency for even the smallest plants
New built and customized small hydro power plants
Siemens provides comprehensive solutions for small hydro power plants up to 30 megawatt unit capacity. We customize each solution regarding design and equipment to reach the best solution for each client. Our scope of supply covers all necessary components of a plant such as turbines or valves, generators, transformers, all kind of switchgears, the control system and turbine governors, protection systems and all power plants auxiliary systems.
Modernizations and upgrades of existing small hydro power plants
Many small hydro power plants built in the early 20th century have either been shut down or are operating inefficiently due to high levels of required manpower and outdated technology. This does not have to be the case, as modernizations or upgrades often pay themselves off in only a few years. Siemens can draw on decades of experience in modernizing small hydro power plants. We offer tailor-made solutions with minimal budget requirements by combining existing equipment with the latest, most efficient components. We utilize suitable parts and equipment to minimize your re-investment costs. Due to our short delivery times and high degree of operational safety, we can execute your plant upgrade very economically.
Comprehensive services for small hydro power plants
The electrical equipment of small hydro power plants is subject to numerous stresses during its operation time. This may have an impact on a reliable operation. Siemens can assist you in testing your equipment in order to reduce the risk of unscheduled outages.
Dielectric standstill diagnostics for stator windings on generators
We offer comprehensive standstill diagnostics for all generator models. Possible damage to, for example the stator winding can be detected at an early stage based on the analyses, and measures can even be determined during the inspection. In the standard case, standstill diagnostics include partial discharge, loss factor and insulation current measurements. The test scope can be supplemented with high-voltage testing or other criteria as required.
Services on electrical equipment
Siemens offers all related services on the electrical equipment of hydro power plants, for example
- frequently testing and checking the protection system settings required by law
- earthing resistance measurement
- isolation resistance measurement
Digitalization becomes reality
Important questions of power plant owners today are:
- How can I improve decision support for my executives?
- How can I optimize my assets?
- How can I maintain my operations efficient?
- How can I keep pace with technical developments?
These questions can be addressed with digital solutions to increase transparency, availability, operations management and performance.
Siemens can provide a broad portfolio of digital solutions with tangible outcomes, focused on generating units, power plants or entire fleets. They can either be based on customers own
IT infrastructure or supported by MindSphere, the Siemens cloud-based open IoT operating system.
A convincing scope of supply
Our scope of supply covers all necessary components, whether for new plants or for modernizations.





