Rybinsk Hydroelectric Station - History

History

Initially the project of a dam in upper Volga considered a dam at 14 km up from Yaroslavl with much less flood area, and preparations had been started. Later the project was reconsidered to an existing one. The Mologa town was flooded.

Timeline:

• May 23, 1938 - the project was approved.
• June 1940 - construction has been started.
• June 24, 1940 - the Volga dam completed.
• October 24, 1940 - the Sheksna dam completed.
• April 13, 1941 - reservoir started to fill.
• November 18, 1941 - first turbine unit was put under load.
• August 15, 1942 - second turbine unit was put under load.
• August 1945 — December 1950 — the rest 4 units were launched.

Construction was supervised by NKVD and forced labour was extensively used. First turbines were started during the most difficult period of World War II, while termal power plants suffered from lack of fuel. The station building was incomplete at that moment, and worked under tarp tent as a roof. Construction was continued after the war, and July 30, 1955 Uglich Hydroelectric Station and Rybinsk hydroelectric stations were officially completed and formed "1st cascade of Mosenergo hydroelectric stations". At that moment station's installed power was 330 MW.

From 1998 to 2002 two of six generator units were replaced, increasing installed power by 16 MW. 4 other units are planned for replacement, too. There are also plans of installing 2 new generating units, increasing installed power up to 505.6 MW.