Driving turbine technology forward Rainpower

DRIVING TuRBINE

TEChNoLoGy FoRWaRD

Rainpower is a leading European hydropower group, specialising in the manufacture of hydro-turbines and power-plant modernisation services. It is also Scandinavia’s leading supplier of control systems. Philip Yorke looks at a company that continues to drive hydro-turbine technology forward in the interests of cleaner, safer and more efficient renewable energy.

Rainpower 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. However, Rainpower itself is a young company that was founded in 2007 when General Electric sold its Norwegian hydropower operations to the industrial Group, NLI.

Today Rainpower supplies all kinds of equipment for hydropower plants, including generators, valves and turbine governors. Its 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.

Today 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 2016 recorded sales of €175 million.

Innovative hydroelectric solutions

Today Rainpower’s goal is to be the leading and preferred supplier of upgrade projects and services as well as for the maintenance of hydraulic power stations. Rainpower is recognised by its international customers as having one of the world’s best hydro-electric workshops. This state-of-the-art workshop plays a central role for Rainpower in the service, modernisation and upgrading of power stations both in Norway and overseas.

The company performs refurbishment services for a broad range of hydro-electric equipment, including mechanical parts in hydroelectric power stations. The workshop’s deliveries meet the most stringent requirements in terms of quality and materials, as well as for geometric tolerance, process control and documentation. The company’s organisational structure is designed to deliver services that are effective, flexible and timely. Rainpower has comprehensive experience and expertise related to the entire value chain, from design, logistics and production, to project management, procurement, assembly and power station commissioning.

The close proximity between the company’s engineers and its workshop, and their communication with customers, ensure the necessary flexibility that is required to work efficiently.

Improved business model

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 improved both its business model and its organisational structure in order to bring it in line with on-going developments in both the national and international hydropower markets.

New ‘lean practice’ measures have been established in order to align the company more closely to the needs of the renewable energy market of today and to increase its level of competitiveness. The company has identified its best opportunities for growth and sees these as being the upgrading, modernisation, servicing and maintenance of hydropower plants in Norway and beyond. Furthermore, it plans to place greater emphasis on smaller hydropower plant production and the development of new, more advanced control systems.

Increasing global demand

Rainpower’s hydropower products and services are helping to provide more efficient, cost-effective and renewable energy for consumers from Norway to Canada and from Equador to Peru, where Rainpower has delivered two 87MW Pelton Turbines, as well as many other types of electro-mechanical equipment for a new power station that has recently been commissioned.

In Equador, Rainpower Hangzou has delivered three Pelton Turbines of 60MW each and in Turkey the company has completed a small hydropower plant and is currently installing three new hydropower stations in the country. Closer to home, in October 2017 Rainpower signed a contract regarding the refurbishment of the Ramsele G2 hydro-electric power plant. The new contract includes new Francis runner, new guide vanes and the refurbishment of other key mechanical parts. The work

will take place during the summer of 2020, and when the G2 station is completed, all units in Ramsele will employ Rainpower turbines. The advanced Ramsele plant is located at Faxalven, Sweden and has a maximum output of more than 157MW.

Focus on innovation

In 1985, Rainpower completed its state-of-the-art testing laboratory in Trondheim, Norway and it has been continuously upgraded ever since. The advanced turbine testing laboratory was built in 1985 and it continues to play a key role in the testing and development of new hydroelectric turbines and related equipment. The innovative results of the laboratory are testament to its high level of expertise and the company’s extensive experience in advanced hydropower technologies.

Today, Rainpower leads the field in the development of hydropower plants, especially for those 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.

Recently Rainpower entered into a partnership with Statkraft and E-CO of Norway, both of which operate Francis turbines with large heads. The objective 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.

Furthermore, the small-scale power market in British Columbia has also expanded significantly in recent years and the company has now successfully established itself in this market too.

In 2008 Rainpower had the vision to establish itself in the Chinese market in Hangzhou, where it has an in-house engineering facility. China is one of the world’s largest hydropower markets and the company anticipates a significant increase in demand for its products and services in the region. Turkey is also a major market for Rainpower and one of the largest markets in Europe with over 50 per cent of the country’s hydropower potential yet to be exploited. This market is also targeted for Rainpower’s future growth. In 2001 Rainpower founded new offices in Peru to serve the South American market, which is yet another of its most promising markets. n

For further details of Rainpower’s advanced hydropower products and services visit: www.rainpower.no