On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, a total of twenty-six second year students (ASP2º) of the Degree in Mechanical Engineering of the Defense University Center at the Spanish Naval Academy CUD-ENM) made a technical visit to the Santo Estevo hydroelectric power plant, located in the municipality of Nogueira de Ramuín, Ourense. The aim of the activity was to offer the students a direct and enriching experience in one of the most emblematic facilities of the Spanish hydroelectric system.
Accompanied by the professors Mr. José Antonio González Prieto and Ms. Lara Febrero Garrido, the students were received by the Institutional Delegate of Iberdrola in Galicia, Mr. Francisco Silva, and the Head of Operation and Management Sil-Támega, Mr. Francisco Basanta.
The visit began with a technical presentation on the history, evolution and relevance of the hydroelectric complex within the national electricity system. Santo Estevo is the largest hydroelectric infrastructure in Galicia, with a total installed capacity of 439 MW. It is composed of two power plants: Santo Estevo I, operational since 1956 with 264 MW (4 groups of 66 MW each), and Santo Estevo II, in operation since 2013 with a 175 MW turbine. Both form a key set in the use of the flow of the river Sil for the production of clean and sustainable energy.
During the tour, the students explored the machine rooms, where they observed the vertical axis Francis turbines in operation, and received detailed explanations on their design, maintenance and energy efficiency. They also visited the control areas, where all the plant’s operating parameters are monitored in real time.
A particularly impressive part of the visit was the entrance to the subway cavern of Santo Estevo II, where the students were able to see first-hand the magnitude of the engineering work required to install its powerful turbine. The day concluded with an ascent to the crest of the dam, an arch-gravity type structure from which both the size of the infrastructure and the impressive natural surroundings could be appreciated.
The activity allowed students to connect the theoretical knowledge acquired in subjects such as Fluid Mechanics and Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering with its practical application in a reference facility. In addition, direct contact with Iberdrola engineers enriched the experience, providing a real professional perspective on the technical and operational challenges of the energy sector.
Various media have reported on this visit, as the following press releases attest: