The Upper Silesian Institute of Technology, which is part of the Łukasiewicz Research Network, will present a system for generating electricity in small hydroelectric power plants at the upcoming BUDMA trade fair, which aims to support the war-ravaged Ukrainian power industry. 

One of the biggest challenges currently facing Ukraine is the destruction of its energy infrastructure. Energy sector workers are repairing damage and rebuilding the damaged network on an ongoing basis, but Russia has been hitting mainly critical civilian infrastructure, including power plants and transmission network components, in recent months.

Łukasiewicz – The Upper Silesian Institute of Technology (GIT) and its consortium partners have prepared a solution in response to the specific conditions of the war in Ukraine. They are systems for generating electricity in small hydropower plants. Using the numerous rivers in Ukraine, it is possible to generate significant power in small power plants that will supply local communities. The relatively small capacity of such power plants is not a disadvantage in this case, as at present many transmission networks have been destroyed so that long-distance power transmission is not possible.

The solution developed at Łukasiewicz – GIT is based on slow-speed, high-efficiency permanent magnet generators with frequency converters. The use of permanent magnets simplifies the construction of these devices. Permanent magnet generators generate electricity over the entire speed range and have the highest energy efficiency.

Polish power generation systems in small, local hydroelectric power plants can operate as part of the national power system or in a separate grid (so-called island operation). This makes it possible to quickly restore the efficiency of the transmission systems after major outages (so-called blackouts) caused by a massive missile attack.

Adrian Andrzejewski