Retrofit of the generator switchgear in South America’s largest pumped-storage hydro power plant

Retrofit of the generator switchgear in South America’s largest pumped-storage hydro power plant

Ageing 40-year circuit breakers in South America’s largest hydro plant (750 MW) faced 106 kA fault risks in 200m-deep caverns with no spare parts available. Siemens replaced six units with four HB3-C vacuum circuit-breakers (10 kA) and two VB1 starters in under four days. The F-gas-free solution handles 630A starter currents while maintaining plug-and-play compatibility with existing 500 kV infrastructure—proving vacuum tech conquers extreme spatial constraints without compromising reliability.

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