VA Tech Hydro has announced contracts worth US$18.5M for the supply of equipment to the Tianwanhe hydro project in the Sichuan province of China.

The deal includes nine Pelton runners, nozzles, the hydraulic concept and model testing with deliveries of the equipment to begin in September 2005.

Work on two of the Tianwanhe scheme’s hydro power plants is to be carried out in partnership with Chinese firm Dongfang, while Harbin is to collaborate on the third hydro power facility.

Turbines at two of the hydro plants have a rated output of 123MW with runner diameters of 3286mm and 3749mm. Turbines at the third plant are rated at 144MW each with a runner diameter of 3366mm.