Toshiba’s First Adjustable-Speed Power Generation System For Small Hydro Has Started Commercial Operation

BY Riz Baig

Toshiba’s First Adjustable-Speed Power Generation System For Small Hydro Has Started Commercial Operation –April 02, 2016– Tokyo, Japan (Techreleased) –  Toshiba has supplied adjustable-speed power generation system for small hydro to Dashidaira Power Plant, operated by Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO). The unit has started commercial operation at the end of November last year.

Dashidaira power plant utilizes discharge water from a dam (*1)  which promotes environmental sustainability of rivers, but due to high variation in the head and rate of flow technical challenge was encountered, as conventional turbine having fixed rotational speed was unable to operate stably within its operational range. For that reason Toshiba connected frequency converter at the output terminal of generator and adopted adjustable-speed system which has the distinguishing feature of adjusting rotational speed at a broader range. This modification led to the stable and effective operation of turbine at every operational range. The adaptation of this advanced technology resulted in an effective utilization of hydro resources and stable supply of power.

In 1894, Toshiba Group delivered the first Japanese-made 60kW hydroelectric generator to the Keage Power Station, Japan’s first commercial hydroelectric power plant. Since then, Toshiba has supplied over 2,000 hydro power generators with over 56,000MW generating capacity around the world. Toshiba Group supports efforts to secure a stable global power supply with renewable energy solutions, including hydroelectric, geothermal, wind and solar power systems.

(*1) Amount of discharge stipulated by Laws and regulations in order to maintain the normal function of the river or to sustain the natural environment of the river under the dam.