Kyro Power, the energy division of Kyro Corporation, has commissioned a hydro plant at Kyröskoski, near Tampere in southern Finland. The decision to build it was taken in summer 1996. Construction started later that year, and was completed in December 1997. The plant was inaugurated by Finland’s President Martti Ahtisaari on 8 September, 1998.
Based on a single Kaplan turbine, the 12 MWe plant replaces an earlier 4 MWe plant commissioned between 1912 and 1936. That facility will be maintained for standby capacity.
The plant is underground, with a fall of 22 m. Water is led to the turbine hall from Lake Kyrösjärven, via a 1000 m long tunnel. The project has had minimal impact on the landscape, the main outward signs being a machine house at the tunnel opening, a gate house alongside the surge pool, and a switchyard at the end of the tunnel.
Water throughput is normally 60 m3/s, giving an annual consumption of 800 million m3. This is the same as the old plant, but gives a total output of 43 000 MWh per year, compared to 25 000 MWh previously. The plant is controlled remotely by Tampere Power Utility, which will purchase its entire output to the end of 2002.
TablesKyröskoski Rapids – Plant details