| On the heels of a very good year previously, Voith Siemens Hydro saw a further significant increase of 50.3% in the volume of orders received in fiscal year 2006/07. Driven by persistently strong global demand for carbon-free power generation from rene wable energy sources, business volume soared beyond the € 1 billion mark for the first time in the history of this Group Division.
International presence ramped up
In the period under review, Voith Siemens Hydro established a foothold in yet another key hydro power market with its launching of a new Operating Unit in Turkey. At the same time, its companies in Canada, India and Brazil were expanded to accommodate growing business volume in each of these regions. Successful integration of Sweden’s VG Power, acquired in 2006, also reinforced Voith Siemens Hydro’s presence in the Scandinavian market.
Constructive dialogue about the sustainability of hydro power plants
Voith Siemens Hydro has begun to prescribe the Sustainability Guidelines, promulgated by the International Hydropower Association, as required knowledge for all sales staff. Training courses are conducted for employees. The Group Division is working closely together with prominent nature conservation groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide training and to prepare for implementation both inside and outside the company. This initiative to promote the sustainability of hydro power gives Voith Siemens Hydro a pioneering role throughout the global industry.
Forward-looking market for ocean energy gathers momentum
An order for the first commercial wave power plant marked a critical milestone for the Group Division. In Mutriku on Spain’s Atlantic coast, 16 turbines of 18.5 kW each are being built into a new breakwater system. Integrating these turbines in a breakwater that is under construction anyway yields considerable synergies in the civil structure that vastly reduce power generation costs. That makes the optimized Wavegen technology a very attractive proposition indeed.
Another step toward harnessing ocean power in a way that is economically viable was the launch of a joint venture in collaboration with the Korean company Renetec. The goal of this venture is to build the world’s first tidal current power plant off the coast of South Korea. Ultimately, the plant will generate about 600 MW. Preliminary turbine test runs are scheduled for 2009.
Innovative ways to improve power grid stability
Pumped storage power plants make a significant contribution to grid stabilization, especially when intermittent wind or solar energy exposes them to extreme fluctuations. This past year, Voith Siemens Hydro again concentrated its attention on the development of pumpturbines, including technologically sophisticated variants designed especially to optimize substantial water level fluctuations as reservoirs rise and fall.
Other development activities focused on Kaplan turbines with adjustable turbine blades. One key issue was on the mechanical and hydraulic design of very large runners of up to ten meters. Voith Siemens Hydro also succeeded in developing a new adjustable Kaplan hub. The new system uses less oil, resulting in improved environmental effects. It is also smaller, which improves efficiency and cuts costs. |
