Issue oneApril 2002

HyPowerThe magazine for: More. Powerful. Solutions.

In these two years, the structures havebeen merged and new processes havebeen established in order to meet thechallenges we have set for ourselves with

More. Powerful. Solutions.

� The integration of the mechanical and electrical hydroequipment businesses shall offer More value to ourcustomers through complete scope, comprehensiveknowledge and fewer interfaces

� The strength of our shareholders Siemens and Voith, as well as our full dedication to hydropower, shall makeus a Powerful partner of the power generation industry,seeking maximum reliability of its long-term investments

� The wide scope of our products and experiences shallenable us to offer the most economical Solutions for allkinds of customer requirements. Our unique IntegratedSolutions strategy supported by our advanced engi-neering tools shall make us the preferred partner of ourcustomers.

Challenge means we had and still have to work hard forachieving our goals – we are not yet there.

Editorial

It’s time your businessprofited from:

More. Powerful. Solutions.On April 1, 2002 the Voith Siemens Hydro joint venture

celebrated its second anniversary.

Dr. Hans Peter Schiffer

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But we do not hesitate to let you know where we want tobe and to let you judge where we are. Your response shallhelp us to further improve – for your benefit as well as forours. Our common reference line is your long-term returnon the investment in our products and services, our goalis to cooperate as your partner for optimizing this return.

With these considerations in mind we launch our newcustomer newsletter Hypower. Its chapters follow ourclaim, we present more issues in a powerful design, intro-ducing selected solutions. Hypower shall be a platform for broader dialogue – in all phases of your investments,from feasibility studies to operation and maintenance.

One important aspect of partnership and dialogue is toknow each other. This includes organizational structuresas well as the responsible persons. Thus, I would like toinform you that after the successful post-merger integra-tion I am resigning from my position as of April 30, 2002.After 22 years in the hydro business and 16 years asmember of the Voith Corporate Management Board andPresident of Voith Hydro and Voith Siemens Hydrorespectively, I hand over this responsibility to Dr. HubertLienhard. He has been deputy member of the VoithCorporate Management Board since November 1, 2002.With his vast experience in the plant engineering andpower generation fields he will lead Voith Siemens Hydroeffectively towards achieving its challenging goals.

He will be supported by a renewed management team withgroup division-wide functional responsibilities:

Dr. Siegbert Etter is responsible for Corporate Technology,succeeding Michael Olschewski, and Jürgen Sehnbruchwill be responsible for Corporate Marketing, succeedingHorst Kübel. Karl-Heinz Fessel will continue in his positionas CFO.

I would like to thank the departing members of VoithSiemens Hydro’s management board for their importantcontribution to the success of the merger and wish all new members good luck and success in their business,providing to their customers

More. Powerful.

Solutions.

New management team at Voith Siemens Hydro: From left: Dr. Siegbert Etter, Karl-Heinz Fessel, Dr. Hubert Lienhard (Chairman), Jürgen Sehnbruch.

Dr. Hans Peter Schiffer

essence. The planning stages beforethe actual start of engineering arecost-intensive and time consuming:Bid solicitation and evaluation requirethe preceding development of mechan-ical and electrical specifications.

Several significant contracts have recently been awarded to Voith SiemensHydro in North America, among them major orders for the modernization ofone of the world’s largest pumped storage plants, Dominion Generation’sBath County plant in Virginia, and for the 1300 MW Castaic plant of the Cityof Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. These contracts are based onthe Voith Siemens Hydro Integrated Services business philosophy: A truepartnership approach, wherein plant owner and supplier objectives becomeone; focusing on optimum return on investment (ROI) for the Owner. TheVoith Siemens Hydro Integrated Services solution is rapidly gaining popu-larity among hydro owners as, by design, it typically cuts their bottom-linetotal ownership costs dramatically compared to the traditional approach tomodernization projects, including significant benefits in reduced projectimplementation times.

The performance and availability of allhydropower plants gradually declineover the years. In a traditional ap-proach, once economic ineffective-ness compels the owner to seriouslyconsider modernization, time is of the

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Solutions.

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EditorialIt’s time your business profited from:More. Powerful. Solutions.

Integrated Services – Voith SiemensHydro Power Generation’s optimummodernization solution

IS in events in 2001 and prospects for 2002

Voith Siemens Hydro’s IntegratedServices (IS) solution gains popularity in Brazil

World leaders visit Voith Siemens Hydro

Sampa tops them all

Voith Siemens Hydro powerful pillar in Shanghai/China

Solina power plant modernization yields increased lifetime and profitability

Voith Fuji Hydro achieves technologicalmilestone in turbine manufacturing

Take advantage of our new informationmaterial

EssayWorks of art – styled with water

Summary

After contracts are awarded, ensuringeffective cooperation of multiple sup-pliers is one of the biggest challengesto project management, as, due to thedivision of tasks and responsibilities,owner and suppliers do not sharecommon goals. Further, the limitedopportunity for in-depth dialog andcoordination during the acceleratedbidding process reduces the probabil-ity of a truly optimized solution.

In contrast, the IS approach focuseson implementing life extension pro-grams proactively, before unplanned,forced outages occur, the owner andthe supplier having the common tar-get of optimum ROI (Return onInvestment) from project launch tocompletion.

By combining the knowledge of thepower plant operator and that of VoithSiemens Hydro in the critical planningstages, a detailed scope optimizationcan be developed. This typicallyincludes the mechanical and electricalperformance optimization and a com-plete review focusing on the project’shighest economic return prior tomoving forward.

A unique proprietary software system,the IS Toolbox, supports the initialassessment and planning and pro-vides the owner with a clear picture ofthe work to be done, minimizingchanges in scope and cost during theimplementation phase. Due to the inte-gration of state-of-the-art technolo-gies and the unique experience levelof Voith Siemens Hydro’s specializedmodernization teams, the solutionsdeveloped are able to significantlyexceed those attained under the tradi-tional approach.

For more information: brian.greenplate@vs-hydro.com

The IS Toolbox – the core platform of Voith Siemens Hydro's IS program.

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Pumped storage plant Bath County, Virginia, USA.

Integrated Services – Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation’soptimum modernization solution

IS in events in 2001and prospects for 2002

More.Powerful.

Solutions.

In 2001, all our international trade fairexhibits were tuned to the IS concept.Our dynamic team at the VoithSiemens Hydro booth – in “more.powerful.solutions” design – held IS-Toolbox presentations in a separatehospitality suite, where details of the toolbox software were explained by IS-trained marketing people in arelaxed atmosphere.

Apart from the usual technical pre-sentations and Voith Siemens Hydroguest evenings, this added the specialelement of customer approach to ourtrade fair and conference presenta-tions.

In 2002 Voith Siemens Hydro will bepresent at the following events:

Hydro Vision Portland, Oregon, USA: July 28, 2002 to August 02, 2002 booth 425

Theme presentations: Fish passage survivalVibration reduction in pumped-storage plants

Hydro 2002 Kiris, Turkey: November 03, 2002 to November 07, 2002 booth 210/211/304/305

Theme presentations: Challenges and experiences onrehabilitation in PolandHydropower modernization with IS in USAPelton runner manufacturingconcepts

For more information:hydrocontact@vs-hydro.com

Voith Siemens Hydro’s successfulIntegrated Services (IS) solution is abig attraction, also at public events.

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The success of the IS approach inBrazil does not come as a surprise.The cooperative project approachbased on partnering has been provento result in the lowest total ownershipcost for the customer.

For more information:stanley.kocon@vs-hydro.com

Voith Siemens Hydro’s Integrated Services (IS) solution which has alreadyproven to be very successful in the United States, has been gaining popular-ity among hydro owners in Brazil, too. Before the end of 2001, Duke EnergyInternational directly negotiated and awarded three major contracts to VoithSiemens Hydro Power Generation São Paulo; all of them based on the ISphilosophy.

Brazil’s succes in IS.From left to right:Stanley Kocon, Hydro Modernization Manager – Voith Siemens Hydro Brazil,Sérgio Parada, Executive Director – Voith Siemens Hydro Brazil,César Teodoro, Operations Director – Duke Energy International.

The September 2001 award of theturnkey electrical and mechanicalrehabilitation and automation of two18 MW vertical Kaplan units of theSalto Grande hydroelectric powerplant, was the largest modernizationcontract signed by Voith SiemensHydro in Brazil until then. Followingquickly in December, the turnkey con-tract for the electrical and mechanicalrehabilitation and automation of two50 MW vertical Kaplan units and power station auxiliary systems ofDuke Energy’s Jurumirim plant wassigned. Finally, at the end of Decem-ber, the order for the Capivara 3uprate project, consisting of one ver-tical 160 MW vertical Francis units,was secured.

Voith Siemens Hydro’sIntegrated Services (IS) solution gains popularity in Brazil

More.Powerful.

Solutions.

Malaysian Prime Minister at Voith Siemens Hydro PowerGeneration in Heidenheim.

Dr. Mahatir Mohamad, the MalaysianPrime Minister, informed himself aboutmodern hydropower technology. Priorto his state visit in Germany in mid-March, he visited the Corporate Tech-nology center of Voith Siemens HydroPower Generation with regard to thetechnical possibilities in the forth-coming award of the Bakun project inMalaysia.

The Prime Minister and his high-rank-ing economic delegation were wel-comed by Dr. Hermut Kormann, Chair-man of Voith AG, and Dr. Hubert Lienhard, Member of the Board ofManagement Voith Siemens HydroPower Generation. During the follow-ing tour through the Brunnenmuehle,Dr. Siegbert Etter, Head of CorporateTechnology, explained the energy gen-eration with Francis turbines to thedelegation, presenting several mod-els. Afterwards all visitors could expe-rience the further highlights of VoithSiemens Hydro technology in a three-dimensional virtual reality presenta-tion.

Dr. Siegbert Etter, Head ofCorporate Technology (left)explains the technology ofFrancis turbines to theMalaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahatir bin Mohamad,(middle).

World leaders visit Voith Siemens Hydro

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German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder meets Voith Siemens Hydro staff inSão Paulo to celebrate the inauguration of Brazil’s 100th Power Plant.

Edgar Horny, President of Voith Siemens Hydro São Paulo(left) had been receiving high-ranked guests (from right to left):Head of Siemens, Heinrich von Pierer;German Minister of EconomyWerner Müller, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder; President of German BDI,Dr. Michael Rogowski;Translator.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder at Voith Siemens Hydro, Brazil.

Hydro power plant Jauru is located inMato Grosso in Central Brazil. It is the100th hydro power plant in Brazil fea-turing Voith Siemens turbines andgenerators.

For Germany’s chancellor GerhardSchröder the occasion of this histori-cal milestone provided a splendidbackdrop for a visit to Voith SiemensHydro’s plant where the Mato Grossoequipment is being manufactured.

More.Powerful.

Solutions.

This figure is even more impressivewhen one considers the fact that thelargest country in the Southern hemi-sphere is producing more than 90%of its electricity at hydro power plants.To this effect, the German Chancelloremphasized the important role VoithSiemens Hydro has played in support-ing the energy supply production inthis gigantic tropical country.

Next year will provide yet another rea-son to celebrate. 2003 will mark the100th anniversary of Voith SiemensHydro’s energy partnership with Brazil.The company had shipped its firstorder to Cachoeira, a power plant inthe Brazilian state of Rondônia in1903.

The most impressive project complet-ed in the almost one hundred years ofcooperation between Voith SiemensHydro and Brazil was the constructionof the huge power plant at Itaipu, forwhich Voith Siemens Hydro manufac-tured two thirds of the turbines andhalf of the generators – the mostpowerful units in the world. Two moreunits for Itaipu are currently manu-factured by Voith Siemens Hydro inBrazil.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröderand his delegation in front of one of the turbines for Jauru.

Voith Siemens Hydro Power Genera-tion São Paulo is the global compe-tency center of the group for the pro-duction of hydraulic components andturbine runners. Moreover, it is knownas a leading supplier of ultra-moderngenerator technology.

The anniversary equipment for Jauru,– three Francis turbines and genera-tors of 40,5 MW each, – is dwarfedby the giant equipment for Itaipu andfor Sanxia, also produced in SãoPaulo. On the other hand this orderhas brought the total output of hydrogeneration equipment delivered byVoith Siemens Hydro from its SãoPaulo facilities to more than 25.000MW, representing more than half ofthe installed hydro capacity in Brazil.

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High-ranked visitors and large con-tracts in Brazil.

The São Paulo plant already saw veryimportant leaders in 2001 such as the Brazilian Prime Minister ErnestoCardoso…

…who, on meeting China’s PrimeMinister Jiang Zhe Min, handed overthe famous photo of the largest gen-erator stator frame in the world for China’s Sanxia project, being manu-factured in the Voith Siemens Hydroplant in Brazil as well.

Recent awards to the São Paulo(“Sampa”) operating unit of VoithSiemens Hydro Power Generation:

Irape-Brazil3 Francis units, unit output 125 MW, 3 m runner diameter, 158 m head,turnkey supply of complete hydropower station equipment.

Corumba IV-Brazil2 Francis units, unit output 68.4 MW, 3 m runner diameter, 63 m head,turnkey supply of complete hydropower station equipment.

São Salvador-Brazil2 Kaplan units, unit output 124.5 MW, 8 m runner diameter, 23 m head,turnkey supply of complete hydropower station equipment.

Peixe Angical-Brazil3 Kaplan units, unit output 150 MW, 8.6 m runnner diameter, 24 m head,turnkey supply of complete hydropower station equipment. Commis-sioning of first unit 36 months afteraward in April 2002.

Sampa tops them all

Shanghai Hydro-Power Equipment Company Ltd. (SHEC) is Voith SiemensHydro’s powerful pillar in Asia-Pacific. Since its operational launch in thespring of 1997, the Shanghai corporate site has gone through an impressivedevelopment: In less than five years SHEC evolved into an internationallyacclaimed complete provider. Today, SHEC offers leading Voith SiemensHydro technology in both turbine and generator production.

Voith Siemens Hydro’s powerful pillar in

This high-speed development is par-ticularly evident in the turbine seg-ment, where it is reflected in the hugedimensions of current projects: Therunners for Sanxia in China with adiameter of 9.7 meters are designedfor the impressive output of 700 MW,the Brazilian hydropower plant Itaipu,currently the most powerful in theworld, and the East German pumpedstorage plant Goldisthal are all rankedat the top of the class in terms of tur-bine performance power – and allreceive components manufactured bySHEC.

More.Powerful.

Solutions.

Runner for the Cinese Wan Jia Zhai Project.

The Shanghai facility’s first completeorder for new turbines involved twoFrancis machines of 180 MW each for Wan Jia Zhai, received in 1996.These Francis turbines with runnersof 5.7 meters diameter had long beenin service on the Yellow River. SHECestablished itself as a reliable supplierin record time and was therefore inte-grated into large international VoithSiemens Hydro Group projects early-on. In this context, the close coopera-tion with other Voith Siemens Hydrosites was of crucial importance and ittremendously aided the quick absorp-tion of production know-how.

Spiral casing for Germany’spumped storage plant Goldisthal.

Shanghai/China

The fact that SHEC enjoys solid com-petitive standing in the generator busi-ness as well was confirmed by theorder for four 128 MVA generators for the Xinjiang Jilintai, which wasawarded in August of last year. Theapplication will benefit from the latestin Voith Siemens Hydro technology,such as VPI insulation technology anda single shaft structure.

Celebrating the Sanxiarunner turnover in SHEC.

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With the wealth of turbine businessexperience and support from theworldwide network of Voith SiemensHydro experts, the young Chinesefacility is now in a position to suc-cessfully handle hydropower projectsof any size and complexity.

For more information:michael.liu@vs-hydro.com

The modernization of existing facilities is a matter of trust. This is particu-larly true if a vendor other than the original supplier is commissioned toperform the work. Warsaw-based energy provider Elektrownie Szczytowo-Pompowe had good reasons to entrust Voith Siemens Hydro Power Genera-tion in St. Pölten with the overall renovation of two complete units of theSolina power plant in south-eastern Poland.

duration of the required moderniza-tion work and pertinent costs evenbefore the order was placed. This pre-cise calculation allowed the customerto determine the benefits the workwould yield right away. The VoithSiemens Hydro team, which is incharge of Eastern Europe, had alreadyproven its dependability in two previ-ous projects.

Solina power plant modernization yields increased lifetime and profitability

A thorough evaluation of the units tobe renovated by an international teamof Voith Siemens Hydro experts hadalready identified all of the opti-mization potential. Thanks to state-of-the-art computer technology andunique Voith Siemens Hydro assess-ment software, the experts were in aposition to project the potential forincreased performance, the expected

old new

More.Powerful.

Solutions.

Technical SpecificationsPrior to Renovation After Renovation

Turbine Type Francis verticalQuantity 2 unitsRunner diameter D1(mm) 4100 4100Net head (m) 42 - 60 42 - 60Discharge (max.) (m3/s) 127 139Speed (rpm) 136.4 136.4

When the order was negotiated at theend of 1998, two vertical Francis turbines with an original output of 48 MW and their generators as wellas controls were to be refurbished.The operator was complaining espe-cially about vibrations in the lowerpartial load segment and of course anincrease of the unit capacity to themaximum possible is always the tar-get. Based on their assessments, theVoith Siemens Hydro modernizationspecialists were in a position to con-tractually guarantee a power increaseof more than 50% to 73 MW. Thishuge performance increase was con-tingent upon the careful adaptation ofall equipment components: The tur-bine control had to be switched todigital technology, the oil supply andpressurized air system had to beadapted, a thrust bearing lifting devicehad to be installed and the existingexcitation equipment had to be re-placed with a static one.

Stringent time management measuresyielded yet another benefit: The refur-bishing activities were completed asolid two weeks ahead of the agreed-upon schedule. This was particularlyimpressive since after the secondmachine had been dismantled, cracksin the turbine shaft were discoveredand a new 20 ton shaft had to be pro-duced in record time.

In the end, thanks to the overall reno-vation, the operator gained a lot: Thepower plant’s output was substantial-ly increased, the operational rangebroadened and its lifetime extendedby at least 30 years.

Voith Siemens Hydro, on the otherhand, landed another satisfied client.Consequently, the Solina project wasa complete success for everyoneinvolved, which was also confirmed ina congratulatory client letter writtenby the Elektrownie Szczytowo-Pom-powe’s general manager.

For more information:josef.gaschl@vs-hydro.com.

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The most crucial engineering chal-lenge, however, was the optimizationof the turbine, which originally hadbeen designed by a third party. To uti-lize all of the increased power poten-tial and to ensure vibration-free oper-ation, the Voith Siemens Hydro engi-neers developed a completely newrunner. In conjunction with the pre-cise new alignment of the turbineguide bearing and the installation of astabilizing air system, the projectedperformance increase was attainedwhile the vibrations in the agreed-upon operational segment were elimi-nated. During the release analysis,Danzig-based Turbo Institute estab-lished that the vibration-free partialload segment actually exceeded thecontractually agreed segment.

Few Japanese rivers carry as muchwater as the Agano. No wonder theJapanese implemented the logicalidea to utilize these water massesfor energy production over 70 years ago. To this effect, water power plantKaminojiri 1 was built on top of the Kaminojiri lock and dam which has beenharnessing the water ever since. Rapidly increasing energy demand causedoperators to look into even more intensive Agano water power utilization inthe early 90s. Plans called for the construction of a second power plant atthe Kaminojiri dam.

More.Powerful.

Solutions.

Even the first inquiry received fromthe Tohoku EPC alerted the experts ofVoith Fuji Hydro in Kawasaki. Therewas a problem that conventional solu-tions could not address: Site condi-tions limited the space available forKaminojiri 2 to the point where build-ing the power plant would either nothave been economically feasible orunmanageable with existing tech-nology. Nonetheless, the Voith FujiHydro engineers accepted the chal-lenge.

On site installation of the largecapacity vertical bulb turbine.

Voith Fuji Hydro achieves technological milestone

in turbine manufacturing

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From engineering and technical stand-points, this economically promisingapproach was a true challenge, giventhat the utilization of a vertical bulbturbine was unprecedented in a pro-ject calling for the capacity Kaminojiri2 was supposed to deliver.

A joint research project with TohokuEPC aimed at solving the technicalissues. This extremely fruitful cooper-ation helped the parties involved toovercome the construction hurdles inthe implementation process, but italso led to the development of aninnovative direct cooling system,which stemmed from a concept studyof the mutual research and develop-ment team. Consequently, no addi-tional water cooling system wasrequired and forced ventilation fansas well as forced lubrication oilpumps, which are generally utilized in applications of this nature wereredundant. The benefits were out-standing:

� low equipment maintenance needs,� very few outage hours for service

and� high level of dependability.

More.Powerful.

Solutions.

In close cooperation with Tohoku EPC,the buyer, various approaches to apotential solution were evaluated. Ini-tial plans, which called for a horizon-tal bulb turbine, were soon given up.The required horizontal water feedwould have resulted in the relocationof an entire street, which would havemade construction costs prohibitive.Given that the Voith Fuji Hydroexperts had plenty of experience withbulb turbines and generators, a work-able idea was developed: The utiliza-tion of a vertical bulb turbine wouldreduce construction cost to an eco-nomically acceptable level. This uniquevertical solution promised the follow-ing benefits:

� space saving water feed,� compact power plant building size,� low construction costs and� it could be realized in spite of very

restrictive space conditions.

The exterior installation of the 14 MWturbine, which began last October, isnow almost complete. Initial testswere performed in March, whichshould allow Kaminojiri 2 to begincommercial operations in June of this year. H. Watanabe, Tohoku EPC’smanager on site, is pleased with theprogress: “Kaminojiri 2 is the firstpower plant unit in the worldequipped with a larger capacity verti-cal bulb turbine. We are certain thatthis milestone in water power tech-nology will cause quite a stir in theindustry.”

From the very beginning, the Kamino-jiri project team considered technicalfeasibility and economical viabilityequally important goals. Thanks tothe trust and respect the Voith Fujiexperts from Kawasaki had earnedduring the joint research phase,Tohoku EPC found it easy to select asuitable partner for the implementa-tion of the innovative power plantproject: Voith Fuji Hydro landed theorder to design, produce and installthe new turbine and generator.

Mr. H. Watanabe, manager of Tohoku EPC on site.

The successful Kaminojiri 2project team.

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For more information: yoneyama-naoto@vfh-fujilelectric.co.jp

More.Powerful.

Solutions.

The latest Voith Siemens Hydro brochures are now available:

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For more information: hydrocontact@vs-hydro.com.

The new Voith Siemens HydroInternet website is online.

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Essay

In the day-to-day business of hydro power we are usually only interested inthe medium in its liquid, free-flowing state – generally considered to be itstypical condition. We all too easily disregard the fact that nature storesmore than 90 percent of the earth’s fresh water – our elixir of life – not inthis particular physical condition, but in its solid state, that is to say in theform of ice, and wisely so, since such ice is only liquefied in small portionsat a time, provided that mankind does not bring the climate into disarray.

The majority of our fresh water re-serves are stored in gigantic icemasses in the Antarctic and the Arctic.The earth’s two ice houses have theirthresholds effectively on the Polarcircles; the further one passes beyondthese geographic lines, the more thetemperatures go down. Nevertheless,millions of people make their homesin the Arctic and Antarctic boundaryregions, evidency enjoying a greatsense of well-being in the healthy airand amid the natural surroundings of their home countries, a fact thatmany inhabitants of more Southern orNorthern latitudes simply fail to under-stand.

Since time immemorial, human beings’adaptability has produced amazing re-sults. Whereas in other places cultureand arts have been devoted to andexpressed in wood, clay and othermaterials, beyond the thresholds ofthe northern polar regions – fromHokkaido to Alaska and Northern Norway to Russia – world champi-

onships are organized for the Art ofIce – enormous sculptures, pagodasas masterpieces of the imagination,or as imitations of famous buildingsand edifices. In the meantime, aninternational guild of renowned iceartists has formed, now includingrepresentatives of the European Alpineregions as well. Alpine countries arenow trying to divert part of the grow-ing annual stream of tourists who visit the increasingly popular Ice Artfestivals in the Northern Hemisphereto its traditional skiing and wintersports resorts.

But it is by no means only the artsthat have discovered frozen water asa rather special raw material forattracting tourists. Two hundred kilo-metres north of the Arctic Circle, theSwedish village of Jukkasjärvi with its700 residents builds, of all things, anall-ice hotel, consisting of 50 icerooms and 10 ice suites, decoratedwith ice sculptures done by variousice artists.

Ice sculpture insidethe Icehotel.

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This translucent palace is repeatedlyrebuilt from approximately 3,500 iceblocks, each weighing about a tonand a half. This hotel even boasts aconference room that accommodates120 persons and is equipped withultra-modern media technology –highly recommended for a cool con-ference atmosphere or perhaps morelogically for heated debates that needcooling down slightly.

The ice hotel has now been in exis-tence for eleven years and claims tobe achieving increasing popularity.Excerpts from the hotel informationprovide the following picture: “The icehotel is a source of unique impres-sions. Every year, many new guestsbroadcast its reputation in the worldat large. The ice hotel is one of thefew real, if difficult to conceive, doorsthat still open the way to nature forus. It is the reason why people fromall continents make the pilgrimage tothe land of the aurora borealis. Theice hotel is noted for simplicity,purism, tranquillity and sensitivity. Itmakes us look back to our roots andahead into a new future.”

Despite its simplicity, the hotel evi-dently offers adequate comfort, sincethe brochure continues: “You willsleep in a warm bed covered withreindeer furs, in an ultra-warm sleep-ing bag. The snow protects you fromthe cold and this miracle of safety andcosiness wraps you in a bedroom thatis only 5 degrees Celsius warm,through the ceiling of which you cansee the enchanting polar light in thenight sky and the stars glittering.”

With these words, we would like topropose a completely new, ultimateholiday experience close to Kiruna inthe Sami region to anyone who feels aclose affinity with water in any stateand who happens to be tired of his orher typical holiday destination. Meetother international guests at the nat-ural-ice bar and at the cooling-offpool specially cut into the frozen riv-er, after your visit to the Finnishsauna!

For more information: www.icehotel.com

Works of art – styled with water

The Absolut Ice Bar in the Icehotel.

Entry area.

Voith Siemens HydroPower Generation GmbH & Co. KGAlexanderstraße 1189522 Heidenheim/GermanyTel. +49 7321 376848Fax +49 7321 377828www.more-powerful-solutions.com

Editorial coordination:Barbara Fischer-Aupperle

Copyright 2002 Reproduction permitted,provided source is given.

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