The Bureya Hydroelectric Dam (Bureyskaya) is a hydroelectric power plant on the Bureya River in the Russian Far East.

Bureya Hydroelectric Dam is a gravity dam with height of 139 metres (456 ft) and crest length of 810 metres (2,660 ft).

The power station has an installed capacity of 2010 MW, the full capacity. Power is generated by utilizing six turbines, each with a capacity of 335 MW. The facility is owned by RusHydro.

Bureya hydroelectric power station was built by Bureyagesstroy. Construction started in 1976, but was halted until 1999. In 1999, RAO UES restarted the project. The dam was completed and the first unit was launched in 2003. The construction of the whole complex was completed in 2009.

The reservoir reached its specified level during the summer-autumn monsoon season of 2009. It was accompanied with first use of spillways during planned tests. Despite the fact that all primary construction works on power station was completed, it will be officially commenced for exploitation by government commission in 2011. Therefore, officially, the complex is still under construction.

Bureya Dam
Official name	Bureyskaya
Locale	Far East, Russia
Coordinates	50°16′07″N 130°18′54″E / 50.26861°N 130.315° / 50.26861; 130.315
Construction began	1976
Opening date	2009
Owner(s)	RusHydro
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity dam
Height	139 m (456 ft)
Length	810 m (2,657 ft)
Impounds	Bureya River
Reservoir
Capacity	20.94 km3 (5.02 cu mi)
Surface area	750 km2 (290 sq mi)
Power station
Turbines	6 × 335 MW
Installed capacity	2,010 MW

The Volga Hydroelectric Station or Volga GES (Russian: Волжская ГЭС) also known as the 22nd Congress of the CPSU Stalingrad/Volgograd Hydroelectric Power Station, is the largest hydroelectric station in Europe and is the last of the Volga-Kama Cascade of dams, before the Volga River flows into the Caspian Sea. Today, it is operated by the electricity company RusHydro.

Today the Volga Hydroelectric Station is the largest in Europe. Volgograd Hydroelectric Power Station consists of a 725-metre long, 44-metre high concrete dam that crosses the Volga river. Supporting it is a 3250-metre long landfilled dam with a maximum height of 47 metres. The Station also offers railway and road crossings of the Volga.

The present power rating of the station is 2,582.5 MW and annual energy output of 12.3 billion KW-hours. There are a total of 22 generators. 17 generators produce 115 MW each (four of which have recently received repairs and overhauls), three produce 125.5 MW each and two produce 120 MW. Three fishery paths drive additional 11 MW units each, but at present two are not functioning. Thus the initial output is slightly downrated.

The 4.9 kilometre dam forms the Volgograd reservoir. At present the station is managed by OAO Volzhskaya GES that is owned by OAO GidroOGK, a daughter company of the state organisation RAO AES Rossii.

The generators of the Volga Hydroelectric Station are connected to the power grid in a somewhat unusual way as the machine transformers of the generators serve also as inverter transformers of the static inverter plant of HVDC Volgograd-Donbass, which is situated on the dam. In opposite to other static inverter plants, it has no harmonic filters.

Volga Hydroelectric Power Station
Official name	Волжская ГЭС
Locale	Volga, Russia
Coordinates	48°49′34″N 44°40′19″E / 48.82611°N 44.67194°E / 48.82611; 44.67194 / 48.82611; 44.67194
Construction began	6 August 1950
Opening date	10 September 1961
Dam and spillways
Length	725 m (2,379 ft)
Height	44 m (144 ft)
Impounds	Volga River
Reservoir
Creates	Volgograd Reservoir
Capacity	31.5 km3 (8 cu mi)
Surface area	3,117 km2 (1,203 sq mi)
Power station
Type	No
Turbines	17 × 115.0 MW 03 × 125.5 MW 02 × 120.0 MW 03 × 011.0 MW
Installed capacity	2,582.5 MW
Maximum capacity	2,604.5 MW
Annual generation	12,300 GWh

The Volga Hydroelectric Station or Volga GES also known as the 22nd Congress of the CPSU Stalingrad/Volgograd Hydroelectric Power Station, is the largest hydroelectric station in Europe and is the last of the Volga-Kama Cascade of dams, before the Volga River flows into the Caspian Sea. Today, Volga Hydroelectric Station is operated by the electricity company RusHydro.

Technical details

Volga Hydroelectric Station consists of a 725-metre long, 44-metre high concrete dam that crosses the Volga river. Supporting it is a 3250-metre long landfilled dam with a maximum height of 47 metres. The Station also offers railway and road crossings of the Volga.

The present power rating of the station is 2,582.5 MW and annual energy output of 12.3 billion KW-hours. There are a total of 22 generators. 17 generators produce 115 MW each (four of which have recently received repairs and overhauls), three produce 125.5 MW each and two produce 120 MW. Three fishery paths drive additional 11 MW units each, but at present two are not functioning. Thus the initial output is slightly downrated.

The 4.9 kilometre dam forms the Volgograd reservoir. At present the station is managed by OAO Volzhskaya GES that is owned by OAO GidroOGK, a daughter company of the state organisation RAO AES Rossii.

The generators of the power plant are connected to the power grid in a somewhat unusual way as the machine transformers of the generators serve also as inverter transformers of the static inverter plant of HVDC Volgograd-Donbass, which is situated on the dam. In opposite to other static inverter plants, it has no harmonic filters.

Economical value

The new plant played a decisive role in the development of the Lower Volga region and the Donbass, as well as uniting the large energetic system of the Central, Volga, and Southern economic regions. The new dam also allowed for the Volga to become navigable, allowing for a path from Saratov to Astrakhan and the Caspian. In addition, there were projects for the irrigation of the excessive adjacent dry region of the left bank Volga south of it, particularly the West Kazakhstan Province.

The power generated by the station is used primarily for the city of Volgograd (220 KV) and for Moscow (500 KV) and for Donbass via the only long distance HVDC-line in Russia, the HVDC Volgograd-Donbass.

Ecology

One of the most negative results that the dam caused was that it disrupted the traditional path of Caspian fish migration to their breeding grounds. The most affected became the beluga, crucial to the Black Caviar industry. The fishery canal turned out to be inefficient, and from 1962 to 1967 the annual rate was 15% of the pre-dam. The other major effect of the dam is that it formed one of the largest reservoirs, which amounts for a behemoth volume 31.5 cubic kilometres of water and stretches 540 km long, and up to 17 wide with a massive 3,117 square kilometre surface area. As a result numerous settlements and fertile lands were lost.

Volga Hydroelectric Power Station
Official name	Волжская ГЭС
Locale	Volga, Russia
Coordinates	48°49′34″N 44°40′19″E / 48.82611°N 44.67194°E / 48.82611; 44.67194Coordinates: 48°49′34″N 44°40′19″E / 48.82611°N 44.67194°E / 48.82611; 44.67194
Construction began	6 August 1950
Opening date	10 September 1961
Dam
Length	725 m (2,379 ft)
Height	44 m (144 ft)
Impounds	Volga River
Reservoir
Creates	Volgograd Reservoir
Capacity	31.5 km3 (8 cu mi)
Surface area	3,117 km2 (1,203 sq mi)
Power station
Type	No
Turbines	17 × 115.0 MW 03 × 125.5 MW 02 × 120.0 MW 03 × 011.0 MW
Installed capacity	2,582.5 MW
Maximum capacity	2,604.5 MW
Annual generation	12,300 GWh

The Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant is a concrete gravity dam on the Angara River and adjacent hydroelectric power station. Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant is located near Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk Oblast in Russia and is the third and last dam on the Angara cascades. Construction on the dam began in 1963, its reservoir began filling in 1974 and its power plant was commissioned in 1980.

Ust Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant Background

Between 1951 and 1955, construction of the Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant was designated as a priority and in September 1960, the State Commission determined the most suitable spot for the dam. It would be constructed on the Angara River, 20 km (12 mi) below the mouth of the Ilim River. Gidroproekt All-Union Design and Exploratory Institute produced the design of the Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant and on June 8, 1962, the Central Committee of the CPSU and Ministerial Council of the USSR determined the schedule of construction and the project's scope.

Ust Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant Construction

Construction on Stage I of the Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant began in 1963. This included preparing the dam's foundation, various construction facilities and 220 kV power lines. In addition, the village of Ust-Ilimsk was created as well to support workers on the project. By 1966, the Bratsk-Ust-Ilimsk motorway was opened to traffic and in March of that year, construction began on the actual power plant. On April 22, 1968, the first concrete was poured into the dam's foundation and by October 3, 1974, the dam began to inundate the Angara River, creating its reservoir. The dam was accepted for industrial operation in 1980.

Ust Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant Generation

By 1981, the Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant had generated its first 100 billion kWh which had doubled by 1986 and doubled again by 1995 with 400 billion kWh. By October 1, 2005, it had produced 600 billion kWh of electricity. For comparison, in 2008, U.S. residential and commercial sectors consumed about 517 billion kWh for lighting. On average, the station produces 21.7 billion kWh annually and utilizes its installed capacity for 5,050 hours out of 8,760 a year.

Ust Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Plant Specifications

The main dam is 1,475 m (4,839 ft) long and 105 m (344 ft) high with a spillway of 242 m (794 ft) in length. It is flanked by two earth-fill auxiliary dams, the one on its left (west) bank that is 1,710 m (5,610 ft) long and 28 m (92 ft) high. On the right (east) bank, the auxiliary dam is 538 m (1,765 ft) long and 47 m (154 ft) high. The power station is located on the right (east) bank and is 440 m (1,440 ft) long and houses 16 turbines with an installed capacity of 3,840 MW. The power station is designed to support another two turbines which, if installed, would bring its capacity up to 4,320 MW.

Ust-Ilimsk Dam
Coordinates	57°58′04″N 102°41′37″E / 57.96778°N 102.69361°E / 57.96778; 102.69361Coordinates: 57°58′04″N 102°41′37″E / 57.96778°N 102.69361°E / 57.96778; 102.69361
Official name	Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Station
Impounds	Angara River
Locale	Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia
Type	Concrete, gravity
Length	1,475 m (4,839 ft)
Height	105 m (344 ft)
Construction began	1963
Opening date	1974
Dam owner(s)	Irkutskenergo
Reservoir information
Creates	Ust-Ilimsk Reservoir
Power generation information
Installed capacity	3,840 MW
Annual generation	21.7 billion kWh
Conventional	Yes
Power plant commissioning date	1980

The Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Plant is a concrete gravity dam on the Angara River and adjacent hydroelectric power station. It is the second level of the Angara River hydroelectric stations cascade in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. Located in Bratsk. From its full commissioning in 1967, the station was the world’s single biggest power producer until Canada's Churchill Falls was opened in 1971. Annually the station produces 22.6 TWh. Currently, the Bratsk Power Station operates 18 hydro-turbines, each with capacity of 250 MW, produced by the Leningrad Metal Works in the 1960's.

Construction of Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Plant started 1954, ended 1967.

Building consists of:

• concrete wall of 924 m long and 124.5 m maximum height (stationary part 515 m long, waterdrop part 242 m long, dumb part 167 m).
• by-wall house 516 m long
• coastal concrete walls all 506 m long
• right coast ground wall 2987 m long, left - 723 m long.

On the upper part of the wall there is the railway track of the Taishet-Lena line and an automobile road.

There are no navigation passes, because Angara River has no through ship routes. Nevertheless, construction project includes the possibility to build a ship elevator.

With the 4,500 MW of output and 22.6 TWh of annual output, it is Russia's second single producer of hydroelectricity.

The Turbine Hall contains 18 Francis hydroturbine units, 250 MW each, with a 106 m of operating head. 5,140 m long penstock forms the Bratsk Reservoir.

Output is distributed into five 500 kV power lines and twenty 220 kV lines.

The Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Plant was designed by the Moscow-based Hydroproject institute, and is operated by the joint-stock company Irkutskenergo, although all the buildings themselves belong to the Russia's federal government.

Reconstruction project includes increasing the output up to 5,000 MW. At present, Irkutskenergo together with JSC Silovii Mashini is modernizing the old turbines.

Bratsk Dam
Geographical Data
Coordinates	56°17′10″N 101°47′10″E / 56.28611°N 101.78611°E / 56.28611; 101.78611Coordinates: 56°17′10″N 101°47′10″E / 56.28611°N 101.78611°E / 56.28611; 101.78611
Official name	Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station
Impounds	Angara River
Locale	Bratsk, Russia
Length	924 m (3,031 ft)
Height	124.5 m (408 ft)
Construction began	1954
Opening date	1967
Dam owner(s)	Irkutskenergo
Reservoir information
Creates	Bratsk Reservoir
Capacity	169.27 km3 (41 cu mi)
Surface area	5,470 km2 (2,112 sq mi)
Power generation information
Turbines	18 × 250MW
Installed capacity	4,500 MW
Annual generation	22.6 TWh

The Krasnoyarsk Dam is a 124-metre (407 ft) high concrete gravity dam located on the Yenisey River about 30 kilometres (19 mi) upstream from Krasnoyarsk in Divnogorsk, Russia. Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric power plant was constructed from 1956 to 1972 and supplies 6,000 MW of power, mostly used to supply the KrAZ (Krasnoyarsky Aluminievyy Zavod, Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Plant). Both power and aluminum plants are controlled by the RUSAL company.

As a result of the damming, the Krasnoyarskoye reservoir was created. This reservoir, also known as Krasnoyarskoye More (Krasnoyarsk Sea), has an area of 2,130 square kilometres (820 sq mi) and a volume of 73.3 cubic kilometres (18 cu mi). It is 388 km (241 mi) in length and 15 km (9 mi) in width at its widest, has an average depth of 36.6 m (120.1 ft), and a depth of 105 m (344 ft) near the dam.

The Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric power plant has greatly affected the local climate. Before the dam was built, the Yenisey in that area was free from ice around 196 days per year. Now it is free from ice the entire year up to 300 to 400 km downstream. The huge amount of water stored in Krasnoyarskoye reservoir makes the local climate more warm and humid.

The dam is equipped with a canal inclined plane to allow passage of ships. Held to be a landmark symbol of Krasnoyarsk, it is depicted on the 10-ruble bill.

Krasnoyarsk Dam
The dam with one of the spillways open.
Impounds	Yenisey River
Locale	Divnogorsk, Russia
Type	Gravity dam
Length	1,065 m (3,494 ft)
Height	124 m (407 ft)
Construction began	1956
Opening date	1972
Reservoir information
Creates	Krasnoyarsk Reservoir
Capacity	73.3 km3 (17.6 cu mi)
Surface area	2,130 km2 (822 sq mi)
Power generation information
Installed capacity	6,000 MW
Geographical Data
Coordinates	55°56′05″N 92°17′37″E