Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam
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| Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam |
| Location | Sayanogorsk, Khakassia, Russia |
| Purpose | Power, Flood control |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1968 |
| Opening | 1978 |
| Owner | RusHydro |
| Dam type | Concrete arch-gravity dam |
| Dam height | 242 m |
| Dam length | 1066 m |
| Dam volume | 9,075,000 m3 |
| Spillway type | Service, ski-jump |
| Reservoir name | Sayano-Shushenskoye Reservoir |
| Reservoir capacity | 31.34 km3 |
| Plant name | Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydro Power Plant |
| Plant operator | RusHydro |
| Plant commission | 1978–1985 |
| Plant type | Conventional |
| Plant turbines | 10 × Francis turbines |
| Plant capacity | 6,400 MW |
Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam is a major arch-gravity dam on the Yenisei River near Sayanogorsk in the Republic of Khakassia, Russia. It is the largest power station in Russia and one of the ten largest hydroelectric plants in the world by installed capacity. Owned and operated by RusHydro, the dam forms the massive Sayano-Shushenskoye Reservoir and its associated power plant has been a critical component of the Siberian energy grid since the late Soviet era.
History
The project was conceived during the intensive industrialization of the Soviet Union to harness the power of Siberia's great rivers. Planning began in the 1960s under the authority of the Soviet Ministry of Energy. Construction was launched in 1968, a period coinciding with major projects like the Krasnoyarsk Dam. The reservoir began filling in 1978, with the first generators at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydro Power Plant being synchronized to the Siberian grid that same year. The final turbine was installed in 1985, marking the project's completion. The dam's operation passed from the Soviet Union to the Russian Federation and eventually to its current owner, the state-controlled utility RusHydro.
Design and construction
The structure is a unique concrete arch-gravity dam, a design chosen for the narrow, rocky Sayan Canyon of the Yenisei River. This hybrid design combines the load-bearing principles of a gravity dam with the arch action to transfer water pressure to the abutments. At high and over a kilometer long, it was an immense engineering challenge. Key design institutes included Hydroproject and Lengidroproekt. Construction involved building extensive cofferdams and diverting the river through tunnels. The dam body contains over nine million cubic meters of concrete, and its foundation is keyed deep into the solid granite of the canyon.
2009 accident
On August 17, 2009, a catastrophic accident occurred at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydro Power Plant. The sudden failure of Turbine 2 led to its destruction and the violent flooding of the turbine hall. The event resulted in 75 fatalities, severe damage to nine of the ten Francis turbines, and the complete collapse of the ceiling structure. The accident caused massive power outages, affected aluminium smelters like the Rusal plant in Sayanogorsk, and led to a significant environmental spill of transformer oil into the Yenisei River. Official investigations, including one by Rostekhnadzor, cited long-term vibration fatigue of the turbine's mounting bolts as the primary cause.
Rehabilitation and upgrades
Following the disaster, a vast reconstruction program was launched by RusHydro. All damaged generators and turbines were replaced with modern units supplied by Power Machines and Sila Sibiri. The new turbines feature improved efficiency and monitoring systems. The entire electrical equipment and control system of the plant were also completely overhauled. The turbine hall was rebuilt with a stronger structure. The rehabilitation, one of the largest in global hydroelectric history, was completed in 2014, restoring the plant to its full 6,400 MW capacity with enhanced safety and reliability.
Technical specifications
The dam rises and has a crest length of . It impounds the Sayano-Shushenskoye Reservoir, with a total volume of 31.34 cubic kilometers. The powerhouse contains ten Francis turbines, each with a rated capacity of 640 MW, for a total installed capacity of 6,400 MW. The average annual electricity generation exceeds 23.5 TWh. The spillway capacity is 13,600 cubic meters per second, managed via a surface ski-jump design. The dam's monitoring system includes hundreds of pendulums and strain gauges to measure its structural behavior.
Environmental and social impact
The creation of the Sayano-Shushenskoye Reservoir flooded significant areas of the Yenisei River valley, affecting local ecosystems and leading to the relocation of several communities, including parts of the old town of Maina. It altered the river regime, water temperature, and sediment transport downstream. The reservoir is a major feature in the Sayan Mountains region, impacting fish migration, particularly for sturgeon species. The project provided a large source of renewable energy for industries in Siberia, such as the Rusal smelters, but its legacy is intertwined with the social displacement of the Soviet period and the ecological footprint of large-scale hydroelectric development.
Category:Dams in Russia Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Russia Category:Buildings and structures in Khakassia Category:RusHydro