ANKARA (AA) – HÜMEYRA AYAZ – Hirfanlı Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (HEPP), one of the important facilities of Turkey’s energy infrastructure, is being made compatible with modern technology with the rehabilitation works carried out by Elektrik Üretim AŞ (EÜAŞ). Hirfanlı HEPP, the construction of which started in 1953 and the first units were put into operation in 1959, has been producing electricity for approximately 67 years.
The power plant, which consists of a total of 4 units and has an installed power of 128 megawatts, has produced approximately 17 billion 205 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to date. Within the scope of the rehabilitation, it is aimed to increase the turbine efficiency of the power plant from 87.9 percent to 94.15 percent. With the increase in efficiency, it is anticipated that approximately 15 gigawatt-hours of additional electricity will be produced annually by using the same amount of water.
It is stated that this capacity increase is large enough to meet the annual energy needs of approximately 10 thousand additional residences. – Comprehensive modernization is being carried out with domestic technology. The project draws attention with its 92 percent domesticity rate in terms of technologies used in HEPPs. Within the scope of the work, the turbine design is carried out by TEMSAN, the generator renewal works are carried out by EÜAŞ Generator Factory, and the control and automation systems are carried out by EÜAŞ.
TÜBİTAK MAM is also involved in the development process of critical components. The aim of the work is to reduce license and update dependency on foreign suppliers. Following the comprehensive modernization, the economic life of the power plant is planned to be extended for at least 40-50 years, and the rehabilitation process of the first unit is expected to be completed at the end of this year. After the rehabilitation of the power plant, which hosted Turkey’s first 100 percent domestic turbine in 1983, it is aimed to meet the criteria of the Electricity Market Ancillary Services Regulation.
In this context, the facility is expected to contribute to network balancing and frequency regulation services. – “We expect the unit coming out of rehabilitation to operate with 94 percent efficiency.” EÜAŞ Hydraulic Power Plants Department Head Gökhan Kaya, in his evaluation to the AA correspondent, explained that the rehabilitation works carried out at Hirfanlı HEPP aim to increase the efficiency of the power plant and extend its life.
Stating that the power plant has experienced efficiency losses over time due to aging of the equipment, Kaya noted that the rehabilitation works aim to eliminate these losses. Kaya said, “In our latest measurements, it was determined that the turbines, which are normally designed for 90 percent efficiency, dropped to around 87 percent efficiency. We expect the unit coming out of rehabilitation to operate with 94 percent efficiency with the new design and design studies.” he said.
Pointing out that the work was carried out with a high localization rate, Kaya said, “Of course, there is a special feature in that this rehabilitation is carried out entirely with local and national resources. The rehabilitated units will have a 92 percent locality rate. After the rehabilitation of the first unit is completed, other units will gradually undergo the same rehabilitation.” he said. Kaya stated that Hirfanlı HEPP has produced approximately 17 billion 205 million kilowatt-hours of electricity since 1959, and that the power plant produces an average of 250 million kilowatt-hours annually and meets the energy needs of approximately 160 thousand households.
On the other hand, Kaya, in his assessment of the effects of the rains, said, “Although the Kızılırmak Basin is one of the basins least affected by the rains, we are observing a serious increase in the Hirfanlı reservoir area. We think that the increase will continue in the coming days.” he said.
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