Hidrorumo - Projecto e Gestão, S.A.

ORIGINS

HIDRORUMO - Projecto e Gestão, S.A. is an enterprise of the EDP Group, and it was established in August 1994 within the restructuring process of EDP - Electricidade de Portugal, S.A.

Alqueva Power Plant - under construction

Succeeding the Hydraulic Equipment Operational Direction (DOEH), its origins can be found in the project and construction areas of those which were the three major Portuguese hydroelectric companies: 'Hidroeléctrica do Zêzere' and 'Hidroeléctrica do Cávado', founded in 1945, and 'Hidroeléctrica do Douro', founded in 1953. These three companies were merged in 1969, and 'Companhia Portuguesa de Electricidade' (CPE) was thus created. In 1976 this company, for its turn, was integrated into EDP-Electricidade de Portugal, EP (public company), later on transformed into a joint-stock company.

ACTIVITIES

HIDRORUMO acts in the sector connected with the rendering of engineering services, developing its main activities in the realm of renewable energy, particularly studies and projects of hydraulic works, but also wind power projects, and in the area of management and surveillance of undertakings.

In these areas, the following main activities have been developed:

• Study of the hydropower development of catchment areas (inventory of water resources and general basin plans);
• Hydropower and multipurpose developments studies and designs;
• Hydropower and multipurpose developments refurbishment and uprating projects;
• Studies and design of other engineering works of fluvial hydraulics;
• Underground works design;
• Studies and designs of wind power projects;
• Construction management and surveillance.

In addition to these activities, HIDRORUMO can render several engineering services, profiting by the installed capacity. From among these services, the following ones are worth emphasising:

• Hydrometry and hydrological studies;
• Scale model laboratory tests of hydraulic works;
• Laboratory tests of concrete and other construction materials;
• Surveying and geodesy;
• Geological and geotechnical studies;
• Environmental impact assessments and landscape restoration studies;
• Land ownership survey, land evaluation and sites purchase;

HIDRORUMO's wide experience, mainly in the hydropower area, entitles it to develop studies and projects and to manage and supervise great undertakings, in different areas. Moreover, the multiplicity of works involved in carrying out a hydroelectric development gives it the potential to act in other areas of activity, namely buildings, routes of communication, bridges and viaducts, etc.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Alto Lindoso - Power Plant

The hydroelectric producing system currently exploited by the EDP Group is composed of more than sixty undertakings, with an installed capacity of about 3,800 MW and an annual average generation of 12,000 GWh. More than a half of these undertakings, including all the big ones, were conceived, designed and carried out by HIDRORUMO and by the preceding companies that were at its origin. This corresponds to an installed capacity and an annual average generation equivalent to approximately 92% out of the total hydroelectric system.

In the most recent years, from the 80's on, the achievement of fifteen hydroelectric power schemes or multipurpose ones, completed or being carried out and with a total capacity of about 2,100 MW, should be mentioned. From among them, the Alto Lindoso power plant stands out, rewarded with the 4th Puente de Alcántara International Award of Civil Engineering and considered one of the greatest achievements of the national engineering.

The three wind power projects currently exploited by the EDP Group and the fourth, under construction, were also designed and carried out by HIDRORUMO.

 

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