Volkhovskaya HPP description and photo - Russia - Leningrad region: Volkhov (Topic)

Volkhovskaya HPP description and photos - Russia - Leningrad Region: Volkhov. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

The Volkhovskaya HPP stands on the Volkhov River in the city of Volkhov, Leningrad Region. This is one of the oldest hydroelectric power plants in Russia. It is a historical monument of science and technology.

The construction of the power plant began in 1915 and was completed in 1927. Volkhovskaya HPP is a run-of-the-mill low-pressure power plant. The power plant structures include: a concrete spillway dam with a length of 212 m; hydroelectric power station building; fish passage structure; drainage; single-chamber single-line shipping lock; ice protection wall 256 m long. The station's capacity is now 86 MW (originally it was 58 MW), the average annual output is 347 million Wh. In the building of the power plant there are 10 radial-axial hydraulic units, which operate at a design head of 11 m. Most of the HPP equipment has been in operation for over 80 years and requires replacement. Pressurized structures of the station form the Volkhov reservoir, which has an area of 2.02 square kilometers, a useful capacity of 24.36 million cubic meters. During the construction of the reservoir, 10 thousand hectares of agricultural land were flooded. The Volkhovskaya HPP project was developed by the Lenhydroproject Institute.

The HPP operates in the peak part of the load schedule of the power system of the North-West. The hydroelectric power plant supplies electricity to the Volkhov aluminum plant. The Volkhov reservoir, having flooded the Volkhov rapids, ensured the navigability of the Volkhov river.

Volkhovskaya HPP was of great importance in the industrial development of the country in the 20-30s. 20th century, as well as in the supply of electricity. The construction of the power plant dam blocked the spawning path of the Volkhov whitefish. Today the whitefish population is supported by artificial breeding at the Volkhov fish hatchery.

In 1902, engineer G.O. Graftio prepared the first project for using the Volkhov to generate electricity. In 1914, he modernized his project for larger turbines. But the tsarist government showed no particular interest in the project. After the revolution G.O. Graftio interested V.I. Lenin. In the same year, work began on the construction of the power plant, but they were soon suspended due to the difficult situation in the country, which was in a state of Civil War.

In 1921, the construction of the Volkhovskaya HPP was included in the GOELRO plan, and the construction of the station was resumed. Volkhovskaya hydroelectric power station was one of the priority tasks of the government, since the construction of the hydroelectric power station was supposed to fundamentally solve the fuel crisis and provide electricity to Petrograd and its industry.

On July 28, 1926, through the Volkhov river was opened through the gateway of the hydroelectric power station. In 1926, with the participation of government representatives, the grand opening of the hydroelectric power station on the Volkhov took place, and three Swedish hydroelectric units were launched. The power supply to the factories of Leningrad was started on the night of December 5. The rest of the hydroelectric units - in 1927. The initial capacity of the station was 57 MW. Over time, it increased, by the beginning of the war it reached 66 MW.

When the German troops approached Volkhov at the end of 1941, the equipment from the hydroelectric power station was dismantled and removed. Part of the equipment was reassembled after the stabilization of the front in the fall of 1942. A cable was laid at the bottom of Lake Ladoga, through which there was a supply of electricity to Leningrad. In October 1944, eight main hydroelectric units with a total capacity of 64 MW were put into operation. The complete restoration of the station was completed in 1945

In the period from 1993 to 1996. three hydroelectric units were replaced with more powerful ones (12 MW). It was planned to replace the rest of the hydroelectric units, but due to a lack of funds, the re-equipment of the station was delayed. At first, the replacement of units was planned for 2007-2010, but this schedule was never implemented.

On January 13, 2009, a new hydroelectric unit No. 1 was put into operation. The planned capacity of the station after replacing all the units should become equal to 98 MW.

The history of the construction of the Volkhovskaya HPP is reflected in the biographical feature film "Engineer Graftio", shot by G. Kazansky in 1974

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Topic: Volkhovskaya HPP description and photo - Russia - Leningrad region: Volkhov.