Voith has secured a contract to supply two Francis runners for the Santa Uxía hydropower station in the Galicia region. The order represents the first major contract between Voith and the plant owner, XEAL (Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones SA), following several prior service activities at the site.
The contract covers the replacement of two runners in the plant’s vertical Francis spiral turbines. The new runners will be installed without changes to the existing plant design and are intended to improve operating flexibility, efficiency and long-term reliability. Voith’s scope of supply also includes dismantling, installation support and refurbishment of selected components.
According to Voith, the contract was awarded after a competitive tender process in which technical understanding and familiarity with the plant were key factors. “Voith was the one who best understood our requirements,” said Federico Rodríguez Trillo (Director División de Energía in XEAL) during final negotiations.
The project builds on Voith’s recent service work at Santa Uxía and reflects the company’s broader strategy of developing long-term customer relationships through operations and maintenance support before moving into larger capital projects. The company said the order strengthens its service presence in Spain and across Europe.
“This order is a strong signal of customer confidence and sets the stage for future cooperation,” said Aitor Aierbe, Head of HyService and Sales VHTO. “We’re already exploring digital extensions and other service opportunities at Santa Uxía and beyond.”
Voith said the project could provide a basis for further collaboration with XEAL, including potential digital solutions and additional service or modernisation work at the site.
