60 years of Romanian hydropower; Hidroelectrica manages an installed capacity of 6482 MW

By Edwig Ban
Today, October 1, marks 60 years since the commissioning of hydroelectric unit 2 of CHE Stejaru, the first high-power hydropower plant on inland rivers in Romania, which was practically the birth of hydropower in our country. The arrangement is the oldest in the series of large “hydropower organizations”, its beginnings being marked by the construction of the Izvoru Muntelui dam and the Stejaru CHE (today Dimitrie Leonida).
The plant itself is of semi-aerial type, includes 6 generating sets with Francis turbines with vertical axis, of which 4 with an installed capacity of 27.50 MW, one of 50 MW and one of 55 MW (freshly refurbished).
“We want to continue the remarkable work begun by our predecessors and to rise to the level of what they dreamed of for future generations. We have not only the will, but also the financial capacity to complete the investments we have undertaken and we are constantly fighting in this direction, whether it is refurbishments, modernizations or new projects. ” – said Mr. Bogdan Badea, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hidroelectrica.
For the refurbishment of Dimitrie Leonida – Stejaru HPP, Hidroelectrica signed in 2015 a turnkey works contract worth 75 million euros. This year, the process of refurbishment of the first hydro unit (HA no. 6) out of a total of six was completed, which, in addition to entering a new life cycle and commercial operation, also benefited from an increase in power from 50 to 55 MW.
Hidroelectrica is the largest producer of green energy in Romania and the main provider of technological services required in the National Energy System, being a vital company for a strategic sector, with implications for national security. The company operates a number of 209 plants, with a total installed capacity of 6,482 MW.