Trung Son Hydropower Plant: Safe and effective operation solutions during the rainy and stormy season

Equipment maintenance at Trung Son Hydropower Plant.

From the end of the dry season to the beginning of the flood season in 2025, Trung Son Hydropower Plant has proactively regulated the lake water level through the operation of power generation units, maintaining the water level lower than the normal rising level (160m) and completely lowering it to the pre-flood level (150m) from July 15. This is to ensure the regular maintenance of the flood prevention capacity of 112 million m3 (equivalent to an elevation of about 150m to 160m) to prevent floods downstream during the rainy and stormy season, in compliance with the inter-reservoir operation process in the Ma River basin.

In parallel, the unit has implemented a major repair and reinforcement plan for the project, notably the maintenance packages for generators H3 and H4 using the RCM method, repairing the valve system, discharge sluices, and reinforcing the downstream dam in area V... to help improve the load-bearing capacity when the water flow is large. The company has also fully prepared spare materials and equipment, ready to respond to emergencies according to the "4 on-site" motto.

In addition to technical solutions, TSHPCo pays special attention to forecasting and proactive response factors. The hydrological monitoring and forecasting system is maintained continuously; information on reservoir operations is regularly exchanged with the local Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, operating agencies, and downstream authorities. Plans to handle unusual situations such as large floods, equipment failures, or loss of communication have been prepared in detail; training and drills for officers and employees on emergency operations and rescue are carried out periodically, improving response capabilities.

By the end of July 2025, Trung Son Hydropower Plant's electricity output reached more than 465 million kWh, equal to 49.6% of the yearly plan and an increase of 8% over the same period. In July alone - the time when the flood season began, the output reached 190.05 million kWh, exceeding the plan by 47%. The generators operated in accordance with the mobilization method of the national dispatching, the availability coefficient remained at 100% during the month and reached 98.77% cumulatively, higher than the assigned plan; the self-consumption rate was only 0.45%, much lower than the target.

Along with that, thanks to taking advantage of favorable hydrological conditions, in July 2025, revenue from the electricity market increased by about 50 million VND compared to the contract mechanism. In the context of financial costs being under great pressure due to ODA loan interest rates and exchange rate fluctuations, the company has proposed to Power Generation Corporation 2 (EVNGENCO2) mechanisms to adjust exchange rates, reduce loan interest pressure, and at the same time strictly control operating and maintenance costs to optimize capital efficiency.

Not stopping at ensuring operation during the rainy season, TSHPCo is aiming for long-term development steps. Two important projects being promoted include the Trung Son Hydropower Plant (MR) expansion with a capacity of 130MW - which is included in the potential list of Power Plan VIII, expected to be implemented in the 2031-2035 period and the Trung Son pumped storage hydropower project with a capacity of 1,200MW, which is proposing to survey the location. When completed, these will be important additional sources, not only increasing the power generation capacity but also enhancing the regulation and backup capacity of the national power system.

During the regular working trip to comprehensively assess the production and business activities, internal management and operational solutions at Trung Son Hydropower Plant, Power Generation Corporation 2 highly appreciated the initiative, transparency and proposals to overcome difficulties of Trung Son Hydropower Plant, especially in recommendations on financial policies, exchange rate management and investment cost adjustment. Power Generation Corporation 2 also highly appreciated TSHPCo for seriously implementing solutions to cope with the dry season, flexibly operating reservoirs, preparing spare materials, closely coordinating with localities and continuing to research expansion and storage projects. Careful preparation and synchronous solutions from technology, management, finance to digital transformation have helped the company proactively respond to all situations, while creating a solid foundation for new developments.

Article and photos: Bach Nguyen

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thuy-dien-trung-son-nbsp-giai-phap-van-hanh-an-toan-hieu-qua-trong-mua-mua-bao-258978.htm