The Dniester power project is a 2.2GW pumped-storage power plant (PSPP) under construction in the Chrnivtsi province of Ukraine.
Ukrhydroenergo is developing the pumped-storage power generation facility through a consortium, namely Research Production Association (RPA) Ukrgidroenergobud that includes Dnipro-Spetsgidroenergomontazhe, Enpaselectro, Kyivmetrobud, SHDSU, and Intergidrobud.
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The main civil construction works on the project were started in 1988, while the first and second units of the facility were brought online in 2010 and 2014 respectively.
The third unit commenced operations in August 2016, while the fourth unit is expected to come online by the third quarter of 2021.
The power station is expected to attain full capacity with the commissioning of the remaining three pump-turbine units by 2028.
Location and site details
The Dniester pumped-storage hydroelectric facility is located approximately 20km away from the Sokyryany city, in the Chrnivtsi province of Ukraine.
The project site lies on the right bank of the middle section of the Dniester River, near Ukraine’s border with Moldova.
Dniester pumped-storage facility make-up
The Dniester pumped-storage facility will comprise a total of seven units for a total power output of 2,268MW. Each turbine will operate at a net head of 162m.
Each unit will be equipped with a radial-axial pump-turbine unit designed to produce 324MW of electricity while operating in turbine mode and consume 421MW of electricity while operating in pump mode. The powerhouse measures approximately 288m-long, 27m- wide, and 21.3m high, divided into underground and surface sections.
The other major components of the project include an upper reservoir, the water intake system, seven pressure water mains, drainage pipes, water release system, offtake system, and a lower reservoir.
Located on a natural plateau at a height of 150m above the Dniester River level, the total storage volume of the upper reservoir is approximately 41.43 million cubic metres (mcm), whereas the lower basin creates a reservoir volume of approximately 58.1mcm.
Power evacuation
The electricity generated from the Dniester pumped storage hydroelectric power plant is evacuated into the grid through a 330kV power transmission line.
Contractors involved
The RPA Ukrgidroenergobud consortium has been engaged as the general contractor for the design, engineering, construction, and installation works of the Dniester PSPP.
Ukrhydroproekt provided the engineering and design services for the pumped storage project. The scope included the feasibility study, design calculations, working documentation, and supervision services.
Kyiv Energy Construction Company (KECC) was contracted for the electrical installation and commissioning services of the fourth unit in May 2018, while Electrotyazhmash manufactured and supplied the generator along with stator of hydro generator motor for the fourth unit of the project.
Turboatom is responsible for manufacture and supply of pump turbines, while Zaporizhtransformator supplied the transformers for the project.
Kyivmetrobud has been engaged for the construction of the hydraulic structures in the second stage of the project development.
Energomashspetsstal was subcontracted by Electrotyazhmash for the production and supply of 135 blanks for the installation on the generator of unit four in July 2017.
Enpaselectro has been engaged for the commissioning works of the auxiliary systems that include the control system, electrical protection system, generator circuit breakers, DC and AC auxiliary systems, excitation system, and busbars.
Hydrotechproject provided the design and engineering supervision services for the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, water supply, and firefighting systems.
Promix Company manufactured and supplied generating switches and current-limiting reactors for units two and three.
Dniester pumped-storage power project background
Although the preparatory works for the Dniester PSPP were started in November 1983, lack of funds prolonged the construction and development activities.
While a branch of Dniester PSP Construction Directorate was formed in August 2005, the project was later transferred to Ukrhydroenergo by the Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine in 2008.
The project is planned to be developed in three stages. The first stage included three units with a total capacity of 972MW, while the second stage will involve the commissioning of the fourth unit with a power output of 324MW. The third stage will involve the construction of the last three units.
At full capacity, the pumped storage facility is expected to generate approximately 2720 million KWh of electricity annually.
