Old photos of electrical installations and equipment from the Soviet era
A selection of rare photos from the Soviet period from 1959 to 1962. History of the USSR in photographs.
Energy in the USSR was an advanced branch of the national economy. In the 1920s and 1930s, the electrification of the USSR made great strides. From 1920, the GOELRO plan was in effect and after 15 years the generation of electric power exceeded the 1913 generation by 18.5 times. By 1940, powerful energy associations from several energy systems were also formed in the country.
In the 1940s and 1950s, there was a restoration of power plants destroyed after the war. The Law on Reconstruction and Development of the National Economy for 1946-1950 provides for an increase in the total capacity of power plants in five years by 11.7 million kW, that is, 7 times more than the GOERLO plan planned for 10-15 years.
By 1950, the reconstruction of the power plants destroyed during the war was completed. In fact, in the occupied areas, electricity production in 1950 was significantly higher than in 1940.
The 1960s were characterized primarily by the development of new equipment. The construction of new facilities, the development, production and introduction of new modern technologies in the energy sector continued actively. Unique generator sets and other electrical equipment were installed in the power plants and complete automation began.
On December 27, 1959, the first power transmission chain Volzhskaya VEC — Moscow, with a length of 964 km, was put into operation. In September 1961, the second chain of this transmission with a length of 965 km was put into operation. The transmission had three intermediate substations — Novo-Nikolaevskaya, Lipetska and Ryazanskaya and three receiving stations in the Moscow region.
The carrying capacity of the two circuits is 1,500 — 1,800 MW. Thus was created the most powerful power transmission in the world with the highest working voltage of 500 kV achieved at that time.
Based on the development of the 500 kV voltage, research and design work began on the construction of alternating current power lines for an even higher voltage of 750 kV.
Metal, portal-type intermediate support 500 kV on fenced
Electricity production in 1961 was 327 billion kWh. As in previous years, the main production of electricity is mainly provided by thermal power plants — 82.3%. Hydroelectric plants produce 17.7% of electricity. The centralized power supply of the national economy in 1961 reached 88.5%.
In 1961 alone, builders and installers of power plants and networks achieved considerable success in 1961.The Volga HPP, the Kremenchug HPP, the Botkin and Bukhtarmin HPPs and the first four units of the Brat HPP, the largest in the world at the time, were commissioned at full capacity and put into commercial operation.
Electricity production is concentrated mainly on the basis of powerful thermal and hydroelectric power plants, which requires an increase in the construction of electrical networks. This contributed to the development and interconnection of energy systems and ensured the continuous electrification of the country.
The equipment of electric power systems, power plants and networks, the work of power builders to build new power plant capacities, the construction of new power lines — all this is reflected in the photographs of that era.
Air switches at the Mironovskaya GRES substation, 1959.
High-frequency mine layers of an open 400 kV switchgear, 1959.
Coupling capacitors on a 400 kV outdoor switchgear, 1959.
Installation of open switchgear, 1959.
«Soviet energy workers, builders and installers of power plants and power transmission networks! Commission and develop new energy capacities faster! Let's give the country more electricity!» (From the calls of the Central Committee of the CPSU for the 42nd anniversary of the October Socialist Revolution)
110 kV line in mountainous conditions, 1959.
The engine room of a high-pressure cogeneration plant, 1961.
A power transformer in an assembly shop, 1961.
Testing of high voltage rectifiers in the VEI laboratory, 1961.
Power Transformer, 1962
500 kV power line, 1962
Receiving 500 kV South Substation.In the foreground is a 500 kV group of transformers
The 500 kV transmissions were particularly important for the interconnection of the energy systems of the most important economic regions of the Soviet Union.
The engine room of a large thermal power plant, 1962.
Power Line Electricians, 1962