Proven Success

With a total installed capacity of 1,920 MW, Hoa Binh is the second largest hydropower project in Vietnam and one of the largest hydropower projects in Southeast Asia. It is key to Vietnam's power system, playing a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country.

The Hoa Binh Dam is located about 76 km west of Hanoi City on the final terrace step of the Da River. A multipurpose project, plant tasks include flood control, power generation, drought prevention, and ensuring navigation of the waterways. The hydropower plant was built in 1979 and the first unit began operations at the end of 1988. Last of the units began operations in 1994. As a result, although some individual equipment systems have been upgraded, the bulk of the equipment in the plant has been operating for over 25 years.

In October 2015, ANDRITZ Hydro received a contract from the Vietnam Electricity’s (EVN) Hoa Binh Hydropower Company for the design, equipment supply and technical services for the upgrade. Denoted as “Project: upgrade of control, protection, signal and measurement system for eight generating units of Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant”, the project scheduled an execution time of two years. This equated to a ‘four-units-per-year’ repair cycle ideally suited to large projects. Site works began in February 2017 and the last two paired units were completed in December 2018, 30 days ahead of the original schedule. Throughout the project all items were properly deployed per the schedule put into operation safely and on time.

Today, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant uses ANDRITZ Hydro’s latest technologies to increase plant reliability and availability and, together with favorable hydrological conditions, this edge helped the plant achieve its highest ever annual power production last year – reaching 12,290 GWh in 2018. Hoa Binh continues to operate smoothly and safely, and will do so for years to come.

Author: Nam Chu