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PRZOOM - /newswire/ -
Heidenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 2018/03/05 - Technology group Voith is now extensively modernizing the Wanjii small hydropower plant in Kenya, which has been in operation for more than 60 years - Voith.com. FSE: VO2A
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• Voith installs new turbines, generators and control technology
• Components are low-maintenance
• Internal power consumption lowered
The company is replacing the plant's turbines, generators, control technology as well as the electromechanical equipment. This will result in an increase in power plant output by around 20 percent. The extensive modernization works is scheduled for comple-tion in mid-2019.
A key determining factor outlined by the plant operator KenGen, the lead-ing electricity producer in Kenya, will be the significant increase in perfor-mance. The modernization concept developed by Voith will also improve the plant's energy balance with the reduced number of electrical consum-ers. Another priority is the ease of maintenance. In future, individual com-ponents can be replaced, if necessary with minimal effort. The replacement of the power plant technology also includes equipping it with a remote con-trolled system, so that electricity generation can be regulated from KenGen headquarters in Nairobi. A particular challenge of the upgrade project is that due to structural conditions all components have to be transported to the lower lying powerhouse using an inclined elevator.
The machines in the small hydropower plant were originally from Morgan Smith. This company was initially acquired by Allis-Chalmers and subse-quently by Voith. As a result, Voith had all relevant documentation on hand during the planning of the project, which made it much easier to develop a modernization concept.
With an output of 7.4 MW, the Wanjii facility, which is located around 80 kilometers to the northeast of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, is a good example of the importance of a decentralized energy supply in Africa. In many remote and mountainous regions, similar plants supply people with power and create the basis for their economic and industrial development.
The importance of hydropower
Renewable energies are without doubt the most sustainable response to growing global energy requirements. Hydropower plays a crucial role in sustainable and environmentally compatible electricity generation from renewable energies and is the largest renewable energy source for electricity generation worldwide.
All over the world it makes an indispensable contribution to a stable power supply and thus to economic and social development in industrialized countries and also in regions seeing strong growth. Since the early days of hydropower exploitation, Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology and is constantly refining and improving it.
About the company
Voith (voith.com) is a global technology group. With its wide range of plants, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets for energy, oil and gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith today has more than 19,000 employees and earns 4.2 billion euros in sales. It has locations in over 60 countries and is one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.
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marian.moebius[.]voith.com 
