HARNESSING HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGY Rainpower is a leading European hydropower group that specialises in the manufacture of turbines, services and power plant modernisation. It is also Scandinavia’s leading supplier of control systems. Philip Yorke looks at a company that continues to drive turbine technology forward in the interests of cleaner, safer and more efficient renewable energy.
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ainpower was founded in Lodalen, Norway in 1853 and began by manufacturing castings for the building industry. However, a major milestone was reached in 1890 when the company produced its first hydropower turbine. This was a ‘Pelton’ design and had a hydraulic head of 11 metres capable of delivering 230 horsepower. Today Rainpower’s products and services span the entire value chain from the development of technical solutions to the commissioning of power plants. The company’s business activities focus on product development, engineering services and the production of turbines and electromechanical solutions for the supply of renewable energy. Rainpower is part of the Norwegian ARD Group, which was formerly known as NLI and is a privately owned investment company with interests in oil, gas, hydropower, renewable energy, onshore facilities, property, health foods and consultancy services. The group currently employs more than 2000 people in 12 countries and in 2014 recorded sales of €150 million.
Redefined business strategy In order to be able to deliver end-to-end mechanical systems and solutions, Rainpower collaborates closely with leading international suppliers of generators, electrical plant and automation, as well as with local installation companies. In recent years the company has significantly re-focused both its business model and its organisation in order to bring it into line with the on-going developments in both national and international hydropower markets.
Recently major restructuring and ‘lean practice’ measures have been implemented to align the company more closely with the needs of the renewable energy market of today and to increase its level of competitiveness. Rainpower has identified its best opportunities for growth and sees these as being the upgrading, modernisation, servicing and maintenance of hydropower plants. This is in addition to its focus on smaller hydro power plant production and the development of advanced control systems.
Leading through research and innovation Rainpower’s state-of-the-art turbine testing laboratory in Trondheim, Norway was built in 1985 and has been continuously upgraded since then. It continues to play a key role in the testing and development of new hydro-electric turbines. The impressive results of the laboratory are testament to its high level of expertise and its extensive experience in advanced hydropower technology. Rainpower leads the field in the development of hydropower plants in the Nordic countries that utilise large heads. This is due to the natural conditions prevalent in the region. In addition, reservoir power plants that use Pelton and Francis turbines have also played a significant role in Nordic hydropower production. In 2013 Rainpower entered into a partnership with Statkraft and E-CO of Norway, both of which operate Francis turbines with large heads. The strategy here is to boost the understanding of the dynamic phenomena that arises in these powerful turbines during operation. This collaboration has helped to establish improved criteria for the design and efficiency of Francis turbines for large heads.
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