Pļaviņas Hydroelectric Power Station

Coordinates: 56°35′00″N 25°14′30″E / 56.58333°N 25.24167°E / 56.58333; 25.24167
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Pļaviņas Hydroelectric Power Station
Pļaviņas Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Latvia
Pļaviņas Hydroelectric Power Station
Location of Pļaviņas Hydroelectric Power Station in Latvia
LocationAizkraukle
StatusOperational
Opening date1965 (1965)
Power Station
Coordinates56°35′00″N 25°14′30″E / 56.58333°N 25.24167°E / 56.58333; 25.24167
Operator(s)Latvenergo
Commission date1968[1]
TypeConventional
Turbines10
Installed capacity908 MW
Capacity factor17.4% (2016)
2016 generation1,386 GW·h

The Pļaviņas Hydroelectric Power Station is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the Baltics and one of the biggest in the European Union. It is located in Aizkraukle on the Daugava River. It has ten individual water turbines with an installed total capacity of 894 MW.[1][2]

The construction aroused an unusual wave of protest in 1958. Most Latvians opposed the flooding of historical sites and a particularly scenic gorge with rare plants and natural features, such as the Staburags. The construction of the dam was endorsed in 1959, however, after the purge of relatively liberal and nationally oriented leaders under Eduards Berklavs and their replacement by Moscow-oriented, ideologically conservative cadres led by Arvīds Pelše.

The plant was put into full operation in 1968. In 1991–2001, six additional turbines were added to the original four, thus increasing the capacity to 868.5MW. Reconstruction and overhaul of the units between 2007 and 2010 increased both the efficiency of the plant and its power output to 908 MW.[1] In 2016 the plant produced 1,386 GWh.[1]

The complex is operated by Latvenergo.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Daugava hydropower plants". Latvenergo. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  2. ^ "Project - Pļaviņas". EBRD. 18 August 2005. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2010-01-09.