First DIVE-Turbine installed at the Darkhan hydro plant in Kazakhstan

In March 2020, the first 2.15 MW DIVE-Turbine, began operating at the Darkhan hydro plant on the river Keles in Southern Kazakhstan.

A second turbine will be started as soon as possible, but progress has been delayed because of restrictions result from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The turbines at the plant will both operate under a head of 15 m, and have a diameter of nearly 4 m, and weight 23 tons each. The turbines were fully assembled and tested in Amorbach, Germany before being delivered to the project site.

Further details of the turbines and Darkhan scheme can be found in H&D Issue 1, 2020.