German company donates hydropower equipment to vocational training center

KATHMANDU, Jan 16: Germany-based hydropower manufacturer Stellba Hydro has donated training turbines worth around Rs 5 million to the German Technical Academy in Dhading. The Academy is a vocational training centre in the district. The training centre in Dhunibesi-5, Dhading, was inaugurated in 2019 by the Bagmati Province Chief Minister and visiting German Vice-Minister. 

NRNA also contributed to the establishment of this practical-oriented vocational training centre that provides training to hydropower operation and maintenance staff for sustainable development of hydropower in Nepal. 

Heidenheim, the German-based hydropower manufacturer- Stellba Hydro GmbH & Co. KG has donated different model turbines for the purpose of hydropower training to German Technical Academy in Dhading. The turbines were handed over on 14 January 2021 to the representatives of Zukunft fuer Nepal Ostwuettermberg e.V. Germany (ZfN). 

The vocational training centre was started and developed by Germany-based NRN Engineer Pawan Dhakal, who was born in Dhading. The main goal of the Academy is to offer different hydropower related operation and maintenance courses. The centre was inaugurated in 2019 jointly by the chief minister of Bagmati Province, Dormani Poudel along with the visiting German Vice Minister of Economic Development and Cooperation, Mr Norbert Barthle, in presence of more than 700 representatives from the industry as well as locals from both countries. 

The Stellba Hydro donated turbines can be integrated with the hydraulic and digital governor (PLC) and can be simulated under similar conditions and parameters as in the power stations. With the SCADA system integrated, the system can be used to train on remote maintenance technology. With this simulation, the hydraulic and other technical parameters can be optimized for supporting the trainees to train in the real hydropower world. 

"We are very happy that Stellba Hydro as a competent partner in service and modernization of Hydropower plants is willing to support this sustainable project in Nepal, initiated by our Executive Technical Director, Pawan Dhakal. We are sure that these model turbines, developed for training, will play a vital role to train and transfer the practical skills to Nepalese youth for the sustainable development of the hydropower sector in Nepal," explained the owner of Stellba Hydro, Mr Dirk Meier-Westhof. 

“Nepal has huge potential of technically and economically feasible hydropower capacity i.e. more than 43 GW. However till date, only less than 1200 MW capacity is installed and further 3000 MW capacity is under construction. As we know, due to lack of skilled operation and maintenance personnel, several hydropower plants (mainly mini hydro) are shut down and several other hydropower plants are operating under-performance and with low efficiency causing millions of revenue loss for the investors. Therefore, we have already started with the welding training program at our center and these trainees are successfully facilitated to the hydropower sector. Due to Covid-19, we are compelled to shut down our training center temporarily. However, we have now planned to resume the welding training classes starting April 2021. 

Additionally, we are striving together with IPPAN to start the operation and maintenance course for the first time in Nepal, where the classes are planned to train in the real hydropower plant conditions to operate and maintain the hydropower plants. The donated turbines model will therefore be gold worth for these practical orientated trainings. These turbines can be integrated to the hydropower simulator available at center which makes virtual operation of power plant simulated in real case for the trainings possible. This kind of training practice is unique and rarely used methodology”, explained NRN-Engineer, Pawan Dhakal, who is living in Germany since last 22 years.

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