Volkhov hydropower plant stands on the River Volkhov in Volkhov, Leningrad Region. This is - one of the oldest hydroelectric power stations in Russia. It is a historical monument of science and technology.

Construction of the power plant was launched in 1915 .  and it was completed in 1927 .  Volkhov HPP - a river bed low-pressure power .  The structure of power plants includes: concrete spillway dam, having a length of 212 m; powerhouse; rybohodnoe construction; floodgate; a single-line, single chamber navigation lock; ledozaschitnaya wall length of 256 m .  The power station now stands at 86 MW (originally there were 58 MW), the average annual output of 347 million .  vVtch .  The power plant building are 10 hydraulic units Francis, which operate at a pressure in your payable 11m .  Most of the equipment HPP operates for over 80 years and must be replaced .  Pressure station facilities constitute Volkhov reservoir with an area of ​​2, 02 sq.m. . km, the useful capacity of 24, 36 million .  cubic meters .  When the device reservoir 10 thousand .  hectares of agricultural land were flooded .  Volkhov hydroelectric project has been developed by the institute "Lengidroproekt" .

HPP operates in the peak of the energy system of load Northwest. Hydropower plant supplies electricity to the Volkhov aluminum plant. Volkhov reservoir, flooding Volkhov thresholds, provided the navigability of the river Volkhov.

Volkhov hydropower plant was of great importance in industrialized countries in the 20-30-ies. 20 in., And also in the supply of electricity. The construction of the power plant dam blocked the path of the Volkhov whitefish spawning. Today, the population of whitefish is supported by artificial cultivation on the Volkhov hatchery.

In 1902, engineer GO Graftio prepared the first draft of the Volkhov use to generate electricity. In 1914, he upgraded his project for more power turbine. But the tsarist government special interest in the project do not show. After the Revolution GO Graftio interested in his project VI Lenin. In the same year work began on the construction of power plants, but they were soon suspended because of the grave situation in the country, which was in a state of civil war.

In 1921 the construction of the Volkhov hydroelectric station included in the plan of electrification and construction of the station resumed. Volkhov hydropower plant was one of the priorities of the government, since the construction of hydropower plants was fundamentally solve the fuel crisis and provide electricity to Petrograd and its industry.

July 28, 1926 at the Volkhov was discovered through shipping gateway GES. In 1926, with the participation of government representatives held the grand opening of hydroelectric power station on the Volkhov, were launched three Swedish hydroelectric. Power supply plants of Leningrad began the night December 5th. The rest of the hydraulic units - in 1927. The initial capacity of the plant is 57 MW. Over time, it increased to the beginning of the war it reached 66 MW.

When approaching the Volkhov German forces in late 1941 with hydroelectric equipment dismantled and removed. Part of the equipment has been mounted again after the stabilization of the front in the autumn of 1942 at the bottom of Lake Ladoga was laid cable that went Leningrad electricity supply. In October 1944, it was put into operation eight major hydroelectric units with a total capacity of 64 MW. Full restoration of the station was completed in 1945

In the period from 1993 to 1996. Three hydraulic unit have been replaced by more powerful (12 MW). It was planned to replace the remaining hydraulic units, but due to lack of funds delayed re station. First, the replacement units planned for 2007-2010., But this schedule has not implemented.

January 13, 2009 was put into operation a new hydraulic unit №1. The planned capacity of the station after the replacement of all units must be equal to 98 MW.

The history of the construction of the Volkhov hydroelectric station is reflected in the biographical feature film "Engineer Graftio" removed the Kazan 1974