ANDRITZ has been awarded a contract by Alperia Greenpower Srl to carry out the complete rehabilitation of the Pracomune pumped storage hydropower plant in South Tyrol, Italy.
Pracomune, located near Santa Valburga in the Val d’Ultimo valley, operates between the Quaira and Fontana Bianca reservoirs and is part of a network of six interconnected hydropower facilities. It uses a ternary unit that can function in both turbine and pump modes to adapt to water availability and grid requirements.
The existing unit, installed in the 1960s, consists of a 40MW horizontal Francis turbine, a 43 MVA synchronous motor-generator, and a 37MW multistage horizontal pump. Under the contract, ANDRITZ will replace the turbine, spherical valves, motor-generator, electrical and mechanical auxiliaries, and automation systems. The existing pump will undergo major refurbishment.
The work scope covers design, manufacturing, transport, installation, and commissioning. After the upgrade, turbine output will increase to 42.5MW and the motor-generator to 45 MVA, improving plant performance and pump capacity.
On-site work is scheduled to start in May 2026 and be completed by February 2027. The project will be carried out under challenging weather conditions and within a tight schedule.
ANDRITZ recently announced it has secured a contract to supply electromechanical equipment for a new run-of-river hydropower plant at Traunfall. The facility will replace three existing plants in the area – Gschröff, Siebenbrunn, and Traunfall – some of which have been operating since the late 19th century.
