Heidenheim, Germany / St. Pölten, Austria: In March 2012, Voith signed a contract with the Czech consortium Metrostav a.s. and Zakládáni staveb a.s. as general contractor for the delivery of the complete electro-mechanical equipment for Štětí small hydro power station. The project is being implemented by the Czech investor Energeia o.p.s.

Largest Pit Turbines in Europe

The Voith delivery scope covers two turbines, each rated at 3.5 megawatt (MW), the associated control systems, the transmissions for speed control, as well as the synchronous generators. With a runner diameter of 5.1 meters, the three-blade Kaplan bulb turbines in pit design are the largest such units in Europe. Situated some 40 kilometers north of the Czech capital Prague, Štětí hydropower station on the river Labe (Elbe) is being set up at the existing weir on the right river bank in flood-proof design. Commissioning is scheduled for July 2014. Štětí will feed approximately 30 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity from renewable sources into the grid every year and thus reliably supply
12 000 households in the region.

After receiving an order for two pit turbines for the Czech hydro power station Litomerice south of the Bohemian Highlands in 2010, Voith has once again won a contract from the Czech Republic. "Our customers have every faith in our technology and count on our experience which spans several decades", says Dr. Leopold Heninger, Chairman of the Board of Voith Hydro St. Pölten.

About the Company

Voith Hydro is a Group Division of Voith and - with a workforce of approx. 5,300 employees and a sales volume of more than 1.2 billion Euros in the business year 2010/2011 - belongs to the world-wide leading companies for hydro power equipment.

Voith sets the standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transportation & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs more than 40,000 people, generates €5.6 billion in sales, operates in more than 50 countries around the world and is today one of the biggest family-owned companies in Europe.

The importance of Hydro Power

Hydro power is the largest, oldest and most reliable form of renewable energy generation. Worldwide, it makes an indispensable contribution to stable power supplies and hence to economic and social development - both in industrial countries and in emerging markets. Hydro power also makes a significant contribution to climate-protecting energy production. Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology from the early beginning and continuously develops it further.