Published on: 2026-10-08
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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The XVIII Scientific and Technical Conference “Hydropower. Hydraulic Engineering. New Developments and Technologies” has opened at the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great. It is the largest industry event in Russia for specialists in the fields of hydraulic engineering and energy. In 2026, the conference expanded to an international level. Thousands of specialists from more than two hundred organizations participate annually. The event features hundreds of reports on current industry topics. The conference’s goal is to develop practical recommendations and solutions necessary for implementing large-scale projects for the development of the energy complex. The organizers of the event are RusHydro, the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Hydraulic Engineering named after B. E. Vedeneev, Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great, and the Association “Hydropower of Russia.”
At the conference opening, welcoming speeches were made by Anatoly Seryshev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District; Ivan Egorov, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District; Andrey Turchak, Governor of the Altai Republic; Viktor Khmarin, Chairman of the Board and General Director of PJSC RusHydro; Andrey Rudskoy, Rector of SPbPU; Alexey Vinogradov, General Director of the B. E. Vedeneev VNII; as well as Li Demin, Chairman of the Board of Beijing Taiji Technology.
The central theme of the conference discussion was the prospects for the development of hydropower and hydraulic engineering, the introduction of innovative technologies, and ensuring the country’s technological sovereignty. In his speech, Anatoly Seryshev linked the development of the industry to global economic changes. New industrial clusters, port complexes, transport hubs, and main corridors — all these are points of concentrated energy consumption that need to be provided with reliable, sustainable, and economically efficient energy supply. Hydropower and hydraulic structures in this system form an infrastructural framework that unites energy security, transport accessibility, and the industrial development of entire macro-regions. That is why the development of hydropower today is not just an industry task, but part of the response to the global challenge of restructuring the economic model, in which Russia occupies new positions, — said the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District, Anatoly Seryshev.
The rector of SPbPU, Andrey Rudskoy, also delivered a welcoming speech to the conference participants. He congratulated the B. E. Vedeneev All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Hydraulic Engineering on its 105th anniversary and presented its general director, Aleksey Vinogradov, with the highest honor of the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University — the distinction “For Merit.”
Polytechnic has extensive experience participating in the country’s largest hydroelectric construction projects. Polytechnic engineers were the chief engineers and designers of many hydroelectric power plants, and the first student construction teams in the country, formed here in 1948, started with small rural hydroelectric stations. It is a great honor for our university to host a conference that is significant for the entire industry. I am confident that it will provide the right scientific and business impulses for the development of hydroelectric power and hydraulic engineering, including those developments and technologies that will be the subject of discussion. At Polytechnic, fundamental science has always gone hand in hand with applied science, and what is now called the synergy of science, education, and industry has long been our customary way of working. RusHydro is one of our important partners both in training engineering personnel and in scientific research for hydroelectric power. Together, we formulate scientific and industrial tasks, develop solutions and technologies, conduct research, and implement projects. noted Andrey Rudskoy.
At the plenary session, RusHydro presented a comprehensive program for the digital transformation and robotization of production facilities. In his report, Sergey Kondratyev, a member of the board, first deputy general director, and chief engineer of RusHydro, stated that the company is simultaneously conducting more than ten projects in the fields of unmanned aerial vehicles, robotics, digital models, and predictive analytics. The technologies are used to monitor hydraulic structures, the electric grid complex, and thermal mechanical equipment.
Sergey Kondratyev noted that robotization and UAVs increase the safety and accuracy of object inspections. A software complex based on UAV photo- and videometry is already being used for GTS. There are plans to expand the list of technologies and tools. Various methods are being considered — underwater, laser, radar, and robotic. Plans include an unmanned underwater laser scanning system for low water transparency, currents, and great depths, airborne laser scanning of soil GTS for automating monitoring and detecting deformations, and radar equipment for real-time monitoring of areas at risk of landslides.
Drones using laser scanning and computer vision are already being employed to inspect electrical networks in the Far East. AI-based software is applied for automatic data processing on power lines in several districts of the Far East, analyzing protected zones, poles, wires, insulation, and fittings. The introduction of robots for inspecting electrical equipment is planned. For example, a patrol robot will be able to perform photo, video, and thermal imaging inspections, measure noise and vibration levels, and transmit data online to the dispatcher.
These solutions allow for detecting defects and deformations with minimal personnel involvement and, prospectively, transitioning to predictive management of asset conditions. We are creating a foundation for further robotization of energy infrastructure assets and digital transformation of the electric power industry. The implementation of domestic software and digital models strengthens the country’s technological sovereignty, increases the reliability of power supply, and reduces operational costs, emphasized Sergey Kondratyev.
In addition, the participants of the plenary session and the honored guests of the Polytechnic University discussed plans for the construction of new large hydroelectric power plants across Russia.
The conference also included a round table dedicated to the development of the peat industry and strengthening Russian-Chinese cooperation in this field. Reports were presented on the industry’s development strategy, the use of peat as a soil improver, as well as the transition from strategic agreements to a unified operational entity and the formation of a unified operational center for the Russian-Chinese peat production chain. Special attention was given to the role of China’s central state-owned enterprises in peat supplies and cooperation on green resources.
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