As part of the modernisation of its Kurkiaska hydropower plant, Kemijoki Oy entrusted VEO with integrating an energy-storage system into the plant, using VEO’s innovative hybrid turbine governor (VEO-eHPG).

With the commissioning of Kemijoki Oy’s refurbished Kurkiaska hydropower plant, VEO’s hybrid turbine governor eHPG was in operational use for the first time.

The eHPG solution is unique on the hydropower market as it is the first of its kind which genuinely combines an energy storage with the frequency reserve regulation of a hydropower turbine. The eHPG’s dynamic regulation minimises the need for mechanical turbine movements, resulting in reduced maintenance costs. The optimisation also enables improved reserve power characteristics of the power plant.

The eHPG exceeds expectations

After a year of operation, the VEO-eHPG system has delivered beyond initial expectations. Each hydro turbine presents unique operational dynamics that require optimisation and fine-tuning. After initial commissioning, and based on data collection, further careful optimisation has been done, which has additionally reduced mechanical turbine movements.

VEO’s innovative approach appreciated

Kemijoki Oy produces one third of Finland’s total hydropower and is thus the most important producer of regulating power in the country. Aleksi Sarajärvi, Project Manager at Kemijoki, appreciates VEO’s technology.

“The importance of hydropower as a regulating power source keeps growing as the energy transition progresses, with a growing proportion of fluctuating production such as wind and solar power in the electricity system. An energy-storage system utilising VEO’s hybrid turbine governor enhances the adjustability of the power plant and reduces wear and tear on the machinery. This improves hydropower production and production reliability.”

“Cooperation with VEO has proceeded excellently throughout the project, and it has been great to work together to strengthen the production of renewable and environment-friendly hydroelectric power,” Sarajärvi continues.

In addition to the hybrid turbine governor, VEO’s turnkey delivery included the integration of the governor and a super capacitor-based energy storage system into the power plant’s systems.

Inhouse R&D

The VEO-eHPG was developed inhouse at VEO for several years and maximises the reserve production capacity of a plant, thereby maintaining and futureproofing its abilities to meet the tightening frequency support requirements.

“With support from the energy storage, our hybrid governor optimises and minimises the need for the mechanical movements of the turbine while maintaining the turbine’s reserve power characteristics and prolongs its service life”, explains Juha Mäki, Sales Manager, Hydropower at VEO.

“We are proud of the work our automation team has done when developing the VEO-eHPG. It brings substantial added value to our clients and it will be an important contributor in the energy transition,” Mäki concludes.