Ljubljana, 14. 2. 2020
“We value the supply of the runner for the US Southern Company as a significant reference contract for the whole North American market. This market is one of our main priorities,” CEO of the Litostroj Group Pavel Váňa said. The delegation from the state of Alabama accompanied by Lynda C. Blanchard, the US Ambassador in Slovenia, has appreciated the cooperation with the Litostroj Group right in the production plant in Ljubljana.
The new hydraulic design of the runner with seven blades was produced by Litostroj Engineering in the city of Blansko, Czech Republic. The model of this runner passed successfully the tests in the modern hydraulic laboratory of Litostroj Engineering. The production was in charge of Litostroj Power in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
“Litostroj Group has confirmed its reputation not only as a supplier of machines for newly built water sources but increasingly as a provider of complete reconstruction of hydropower plants and their parts all over the world too,” Pavel Váňa stressed.
Lay Dam Hydropower Plant
The Lay Hydropower Plant is part of the dam on the river Coosa. It is a run-of-river, not a storage type of plant – the level of the lake remains more or less constant year-round. The facility doesn’t generate power all the time, but only during the peak demand or when the market prices for electricity are favourable. The height of the Lay Dam reaches almost 130 feet (approx. 40 m), its length is 2,260 feet (almost 690 m), and it is a gravity concrete dam.
The bill concerning the construction of the Lay Hydropower Plant was signed by former president of the USA Theodor Roosevelt already in 1907. The author of the original project was William Patrick Lay, who had long been a proponent of developing the navigation and electrical potential of the Coosa River. It was the first hydropower facility of the company Alabama Power, which is today a subsidiary of the Southern Company. In 1967, the hydropower plant underwent a significant renovation.
The lake is an important destination for recreation. It offers great opportunities for boating, swimming, fishing and other outdoor activities.
Industry Pillar of ENERGO-PRO
Litostroj Group is part of the multinational group ENERGO-PRO headquartered in Prague in the Czech Republic. ENERGO-PRO is a leading operator of hydropower plants. Thanks to the activities of Litostroj Group, ENERGO-PRO has also strengthened its industry pillar in recent years. It continues the Central European tradition of research, development and production of hydraulic machines. The Kaplan turbine, which is also installed in the Lay Hydropower Plant in Alabama, was invented by the famous engineer Viktor Kaplan in the city of Brno located in the area of the today’s Czech Republic.
Litostroj Group consists of the traditional producer of water turbines and other machines Litostroj Power in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the engineering company Litostroj Engineering in Blansko, Czech Republic, other producer of hydraulic machines Litostroj Turkey which operates the new factory in Ankara, and the company Litostroj Hydro headquartered in Quebec, Canada, which focuses on projects all over the North America.