Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant – four months after the accident

Russia’s largest Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power plant was shut down early on August 17 following the biggest accident in the history of the country’s hydroelectric power industry. Water flooded the turbine hall destroying three power units and damaging the other seven, with a capacity of 640 MW each.
The power plant four months after the accident, photo by RIA Novosti.

The dam body and hydraulic jump basin are controlled daily by a set of sensors and cause no concern for specialists.
Photo: Fifth power unit at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP.

Repair and renewal at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP continue 24 hours a day and involve over 1,200 employees.

Turbine hall at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP.

Second power unit – the “main culprit” of the accident.

Clearing the debris of damaged power units.

Building a spillway.

Two-hour shifts were arranged for employees working in special outfits amid heavy frost reaching minus 30 degrees Centigrade.

Almost 2,500 construction workers are involved in building the spillway. The Yenisei River will flow throw the spillway next summer. A tunnel has been bored through the rock. Water will flow to the Yenisei circumventing the dam.

View at the service spillway from the dam crest.

Before the accident, the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant accounted for 2% of Russia’s overall electric power production and 15% produced at hydroelectric power plants.