Voith Delivers Early Fault Detection and Reliability Gains at Philippine Hydropower Facility

The operators of Lake Mainit hydropower plant are using the Hydro Pocket system by Voith.

(IN BRIEF) Voith has completed a proactive preventive maintenance program at the Lake Mainit hydropower plant in the Philippines under a long-term service agreement. The 24.9 MW facility, commissioned in 2023 and powered by three vertical Francis turbines, benefited from a seven-day maintenance schedule that included main inlet valve repairs, inspections, and electrical testing. Digital monitoring tools and a health assessment identified a valve actuation issue early, allowing corrective measures to be implemented before it could lead to unplanned outages. The intervention improved reliability, safety, and operational continuity, demonstrating the value of combining digital diagnostics with on-site maintenance expertise.

(PRESS RELEASE) JABONGA, AGUSAN DEL NORTE, PHILIPPINES, 19-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Voith has successfully completed a scheduled preventive maintenance program at the Lake Mainit hydropower plant in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, Philippines, reinforcing the facility’s operational reliability and long-term performance. The work was carried out under an ongoing long-term service agreement and focused on proactive maintenance measures designed to prevent unplanned outages and safeguard continuous power generation.

Commissioned in 2023, the Lake Mainit hydropower plant is equipped with three vertical Francis turbines supplied by Voith, delivering a combined installed capacity of 24.9 MW. As part of the recent maintenance campaign, Voith executed a carefully planned seven-day preventive maintenance schedule covering repairs to the main inlet valves, comprehensive electrical testing, and annual inspections of key turbine and plant components.

Central to the maintenance program was the use of digital monitoring and diagnostics introduced through the long-term service agreement. In early 2024, the plant operator integrated a computerized maintenance management system with Voith, followed by the addition of the Hydro Pocket digital tool to enhance operational transparency and data-driven decision-making. Later that year, Voith conducted a digital health assessment using its OnCare.Diagnostic service, which applies advanced data analysis to detect emerging technical risks and support more effective maintenance planning.

Lake Mainit hydropower plant from above.

During this digital assessment, Voith identified an irregularity in the actuation time of the main inlet valve on Unit 1. Based on these findings, both the plant operator and the service teams were advised to inspect the valve in detail. As a result, the replacement of the Unit 1 main inlet valve seals and the correction of a misalignment issue were prioritised within the preventive maintenance scope.

The intervention successfully restored the valve’s performance to its original design specifications, eliminating gaps during closure and achieving the required closing time. By resolving the issue at an early stage, the maintenance work significantly reduced the risk of unexpected shutdowns, improved equipment reliability, and strengthened overall safety at the plant.

The maintenance campaign highlighted effective collaboration between the plant operator, Voith specialists, local workforce support, and the J-Power technical team. According to Angelo A. Panganiban, Plant Manager at the Lake Mainit hydropower plant, Voith’s digital diagnostics played a decisive role in uncovering a hidden issue and enabling timely corrective action, helping to prevent potential downtime while securing the long-term reliability of the facility.

About the Voith Group

The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 22,000 employees, sales of € 5.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

About Voith Hydro

The Group Division Voith Hydro is part of the Voith Group and a leading full-line supplier as well as trusted partner for equipping hydropower plants. Voith develops customized, long-term solutions and services for large and small hydro plants all over the world. Its portfolio of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all major components for large and small hydro plants, from generators, turbines, pumps and automation systems, right through to spare parts, maintenance and training services, and digital solutions for intelligent hydropower.