The renovation of the turbines at the Melo Hydropower Plant, located in the Nokianvirta River in the Kokemäenjoki watershed, is progressing. The renovation project was initiated ahead of schedule, and the first of the turbines to be renovated, Turbine 2, was brought back into operation after Midsummer. The goal is to start the renovation of the second turbine, Turbine 1, by the end of summer 2025.
The renovation of the Melo turbines began earlier than planned due to a bearing failure found in Turbine 2. To begin with, the turbine was dismantled and transported to the workshop, where it was inspected, serviced, and repaired. The renovated turbine was installed in May, and testing was completed at the end of May.
“The installation work has gone well, although the schedule change brought challenges to the delivery times of some parts. There have been advancements in technical solutions since the last renovation, so we are modernising parts of the machinery at the same time. With continuous, regular maintenance, we ensure that the equipment lasts and its lifecycle remains long,” says Juha Kähkölä, Project and Investment Manager at PVO-Vesivoima.
The investment decision for the renovation was made in the spring of 2024. The plant’s equipment was last renovated in the late 1990s. The plant will operate normally throughout the renovation. The renovation of the second turbine, Turbine 1, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
“We will be able to utilise the lessons learned now when we start the renovation of the second turbine, Turbine 1, at the end of summer. The team has worked seamlessly together, and we are pleased to have included a lot of local expertise from the Pirkanmaa region. This has made the work flexible and swift. Once the renovation is complete, the Melo power plant will be in like-new condition,” says Kähkölä.
The renovation of the Melo turbines is being carried out by Andritz Hydro Oy, and Caverion Suomi is responsible for the dismantling and installation work related to the generator.
The renovation of the turbines at the Melo Hydropower Plant is part of PVO-Vesivoima’s long-term investment and refurbishment programme. In 2022, the earth dam at Melo was refurbished and reinforced with a drilled pile wall, a Finnish innovation. The plant’s electrical automation was modernised between 2014 and 2025. After the turbine renovation, the Melo hydropower plant will meet modern hydropower requirements.
For more information:
Juha Kähkölä, Project and Investment Manager, PVO-Vesivoima Oy, juha.kahkola@pvo.fi, tel. +358 50 303 8622
Melo hydropower plant
- Located in the Kokemäenjoki watershed, Nokianvirta, Nokia
- The plant was completed in 1971
- The turbines were previously renovated in 1998–1999 and the generators in 2014–2015
- The plant’s capacity is 67.9 megawatts
- 2 Kaplan turbines
PVO-Vesivoima Oy produces electricity with hydropower plants on the Iijoki, Kemijoki, and Kokemäenjoki rivers. The company’s electricity production averages 1.8 terawatt-hours per year. The company is part of the Pohjolan Voima Group www.pohjolanvoima.fi.