Voith has completed two major Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) for the Snowy 2.0 pumped storage project, finalising work on key components in Shanghai, China, and Heidenheim, Germany.
In Shanghai, tests were carried out on generator components including the rotor poles for Unit 4 and stator bars for Unit 2. The rotor poles showed uniform magnetic flux density, precise winding, and high-quality lamination. The stator bars met requirements for insulation thickness, partial discharge values, and bar end shaping. The FAT process was conducted under a structured quality framework, which customer representatives described as showing strong manufacturing discipline and effective quality management.
At Voith’s Heidenheim site, the Automation team completed FATs for digital and hydraulic governors for Units 5 and 6. The systems were tested in their final cabinet configuration with live control connections. The FATs marked the first use of bus-controlled proportional valves on an Allen-Bradley PLC platform. After calibration, the system performed as expected. Hydraulic opening and closing times were optimized, and emergency shutdown procedures were successfully tested.
More than 30 engineers and technicians took part in the Heidenheim FATs, using the process to build experience for upcoming commissioning work in Australia.
“Snowy 2.0 will underpin the future of clean energy in Australia – and we are proud to contribute key technologies and expertise to make it a success,” said Bill Armstrong, Senior Vice President Global Large Projects of Voith Hydro. “These parallel FATs show how our global teams deliver precision and performance across borders. This kind of collaboration, combining digital innovation and hands-on excellence, is exactly what makes Voith Hydro a reliable partner for large-scale hydropower.”
With the tests completed, Voith said it is prepared for the next phase of the project in Australia.
Snowy 2.0 is a pumped storage expansion of the existing Snowy Scheme in New South Wales, Australia. Once completed, it will add 2000MW of generation capacity and provide 350,000MWh of energy storage, supporting the country’s transition to renewable energy and grid stability.
