Saving 60,000 tons

ANDRITZ HYDRO is going to supply two Bulb turbines with a capacity of 8.85 MW each, including speed controllers, as well as generators, excitation and the entire control system of the plant. The power plant is designed for a gross head of 9.65 m and a flow rate of 200 m³/s. The major part of the equipment will be produced in the ANDRITZ HYDRO workshop in Weiz, Austria, thus providing substantial local added value.

Currently, the electricity produced in Styria covers less than half of the province’s electricity demand. In order to improve Styria’s energy balance and to achieve the ambitious climate goals set out under the Paris agreement, the Styrian climate and energy strategy stipulates intensified expansion of renewable energy sources. Initial plans for the Mur River hydropower plant in Graz were presented to the public in 2009. In the course of an environmental impact assessment taking a total of four years, environmental experts from the province of Styria and from the Federal Environmental Senate thoroughly analyzed the project site, as well as all the input and any concerns from NGOs and local residents. Finally, in 2014 the go-ahead for the project was given, and all required legal certi­fications could be obtained. The ­hydropower plant will provide about 45,000 Graz residents as well as the numerous electric cars in the city with CO2-free electricity starting in 2019, and will lead to a sustainable reduction of ­dependency on electricity imports. Thus, about 60,000 tons of CO2 will be saved annually once the hydropower plant is in operation.

This order once again underlines ANDRITZ HYDRO’s successful and long-term cooperation with both Energie Steiermark and VERBUND while it also strengthens the company’s leading market position in the Austrian hydropower market.

Author: Michael Haslinger