The largest power plants in Russia: list, types and features. Geothermal power plants in Russia

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Russia has been showing good results in electricity generation at thermal power plants since Soviet times. Russian power plants are scattered in most major cities of the country. Consider the most powerful in terms of energy production and their distinctive features. It should be noted that most of the structures were erected back in the 60-80s of the last century, but new structures have also been commissioned since then.

Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP

This power plant is the 7th largest operating facility in the world in terms of installed capacity. The Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP, located on the Yenisei, is the highest dam in Russia and one of the highest in the world. Its maximum capacity is 13090 m3/s. In the station part of this power plant in Russia there are 21 sections, the turbine hall includes 10 hydraulic units, and in the station part there are 10 permanent water intakes, from which turbine conduits are laid. The dam of the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP contributes to raising the water level in the Yenisei, due to which a reservoir is formed. The design capacity of the station is 6400 MW.

Krasnoyarsk HPP

Firstpower plants in Russia were built in the 50-60s of the last century. So, the construction of the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station began in 1955, also on the Yenisei. This station is called the heart of the energy system of Siberia, as it is one of the leading suppliers of electricity in this region. Today, the Krasnoyarsk HPP is one of the ten largest plants in the world, which employs more than 550 people. It was finally put into operation back in 1972 and has been constantly improved since then. This HPP consists of several facilities:

• gravity concrete dam;
• at the dam building of the hydroelectric power station;
• installations for the reception and distribution of energy;
• ship lift with sling.

The construction of the second largest power plant in Russia took almost 6 million m³ of concrete. The station has a maximum throughput of 14,000 m³/sec, and a hydroelectric capacity of 6,000 MW. The dam forms the Krasnoyarsk reservoir with an area of 2000 km^{2. The peculiarity of this power plant is in the only ship lift in Russia, which is needed for the passage of ships. In 1995, the HPP's hydroelectric units were worn out by 50%, so it was decided to reconstruct and modernize them.}

Surgutskaya GRES

The largest power plants in Russia are also represented by Surgutskaya GRES, located in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. The station has an installed electrical capacity of 5597 MW, operating onassociated oil and natural gas. Its construction began in the 80s, when there was a shortage of energy consumption in the middle Ob region. According to the original project, a total of 8 power units were to be commissioned, and the capacity was to make Surgutskaya GRES one of the most powerful thermal power plants.

Bratskaya HPP

The largest power plants in Russia are located on the Angara River. The Bratsk HPP is part of the Angarsk HPP Cascade, being the leader in the production of electricity throughout Eurasia. The decision to build the station was made in 1954, and the commissioning took place in 1967. The unique volumes and stable water resources of Lake Baikal and the Bratsk Reservoir affected the fact that this hydroelectric power station began to play an important role for the economic development of the country.

Today, the Bratsk HPP consists of 18 units, and the energy produced here is widely used in various industries. The station consists of several workshops, which are constantly monitored by a staff of 300 people. Since there is no through navigation along the Angara, the hydroelectric complex does not have navigation facilities. The installed capacity of the Bratsk hydroelectric power plant is 4,500 MW.

Balakovo NPP

In the list of Russian power plants that produce the largest volumes of electricity, we included the Balakovo NPP, which is the leader in the country's nuclear power industry. Thanks to the constant improvement of the equipment, highindicators. The efficiency of methods for increasing power generation has been improved by improving the design of nuclear fuel. This station uses reactors with double-circuit power units.

Kursk NPP

Energy is the backbone of the economy in the Kursk region as well. The Russian power plants located here are among the first five stations that generate large capacities. It is the electricity of this station that provides most of the production in the region. The Kursk NPP is a single-circuit type plant, when the coolant is ordinary purified water circulating in a closed circuit.

Leningrad NPP

The Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant is the first in the country to have RBMK-1000 type reactors. The LNPP consists of four power units, with the main energy produced going to general consumption. This station is the largest energy producer in the northwestern region of Russia.

Geothermal sources for the benefit of the country

There are different types of power plants in Russia. Thus, geothermal energy is considered the most promising in modern history, including in our country. Experts agree that the energy of the Earth's heat is much greater than the energy of all the world's oil and gas reserves. It is advisable to build geothermal stations where there are volcanic areas. Due to the junction of volcanic lava with water resources, the water is intensely heated, hot water is knocked out to the surface in the form of geysers.

Such natural properties make it possible to build modern geothermal power plants in Russia. There are many of them in our country:

1. Pauzhetskaya GeoPP. This station was built in 1966 near the Kambalny volcano due to the need to provide residential villages and industries nearby with electricity. The installed capacity at the time of launch was only 5 MW, then the capacity was increased to 12 MW.
2. Verkhne-Mutnovskaya Pilot GeoPP is located in Kamchatka and was launched in 1999. It consists of three power units of 4 MW each. Construction was carried out near the Mutnovsky volcano.
3. Oceanskaya GeoPP. This station was built on the Kuril chain in 2006.
4. Mendeleevskaya GeoTPP. This station was built in order to provide heat and electricity to the city of Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

As you can see, geothermal power plants in Russia are still operating. Moreover, active work is underway to modernize existing facilities, which will provide areas and enterprises located near volcanic rocks with the required amount of energy.

Following progress

Note that the development of energy does not stand still. So, it became known that in Russia, in particular, on the territory of the Samara region, a solar power plant will be built. Experts say that this project will become a significant phenomenon not only for the Samara region, but for the whole country as a whole. It is planned to build solar stations on the territoryStavropol and Volgograd. As for the already existing facilities, with due attention and timely modernization, they will be able to provide the required amount of energy even to remote regions of Russia.