The Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAP, part of the United Aircraft Corporation of Rostec) is completing the reconstruction of the main step-down substation (GPP) at the enterprise. The updated substation will provide for all the growing production needs for the serial launch of MC-21 civil aircraft, the plant's press service said.
GPP is a key substation that receives electricity through 110 kV high-voltage lines from the Irkutsk Grid Company, converts it to 6 kV, and sends it through the plant's internal networks.
When the decision was made to mass-produce MC-21 aircraft, we assessed the capabilities of our GPP. Taking into account the planned commissioning of new buildings, we realized that its capacity would not be enough, and an increase was required. In 2015, a project was commissioned that provided for the replacement of equipment and, in the future, an increase in the capacity of our GPP from 49 MW to 77 MW.
The design and expert review process took three years. When funding was allocated directly for construction and installation work in 2020, it turned out that the project was no longer relevant, as the requirements and standards had changed.
IAP, together with "RT-Energoefficiency", updated the project. The same organization acted as the general contractor, fully completing the reconstruction with the involvement of subcontractors.