hydropower

  • POWER Digest [August 2019]

    VW Chooses MHPS to Modernize Cogen Plant. Volkswagen AG (VW) in early July said it chose Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Europe (MHPS Europe) to build a gas-and-steam power plant in Wolfsburg, as part of the

  • NREL Names FAST Prize Concept Stage Winners

    Nine pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) concepts today were named winners of the latest stage in the FAST Commissioning for Pumped-Storage Hydropower (PSH) prize competition. The FAST Prize—which stands for “Furthering Advancements to Shorten Time”—is part of the American-Made Challenges series, designed to accelerate the commissioning times of PSH projects from 10 years to five, while reducing […]

  • Tri-State announces transformative Responsible Energy Plan

    WESTMINSTER, Colorado (July 17, 2019) — Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is pursuing an aggressive Responsible Energy Plan to transition to a cleaner energy portfolio, while ensuring reliability, increasing member flexibility and with a goal to lower wholesale rates. “Our membership and board are unified in our pursuit of a cleaner, reliable and lower-cost resource portfolio,” said […]

  • POWER Notebook: Ohio Gas Plant Project in Jeopardy if Nuclear Bill Passes

    New York City-based LS Power on July 15 said it would end a project to expand its natural gas-fired Troy power plant in Ohio if state lawmakers pass legislation to subsidize the state’s two nuclear power plants. LS Power in a news release Monday said, “Handouts to nuclear plants jeopardize the economics of the other […]

  • Digital leader ABB provides Enel Green Power with predictive software for sustainable hydro operations

    ABB is partnering with Enel Green Power to deliver innovative predictive maintenance solutions that will lower maintenance costs and transform the performance, reliability and energy efficiency of its hydropower plants throughout Italy. The three-year contract will enable 33 of Enel Green Power’s hydroelectric plants, comprised of about 100 units, to move from hours-based maintenance to […]

  • Hydropower Is Vital to Africa’s Future

    Africa has a number of power supply challenges, many of which can be overcome with renewable energy. Foremost among the options is hydropower. While large projects can meet stiff resistance in the development

  • Apagón: A Blackout Sweeps South America

    Authorities have initiated a far-reaching investigation into an unprecedented blackout that on June 16 hit a wide swath of South America—most of Argentina and Uruguay, and parts of Paraguay—affecting tens of millions of people.  The massive blackout—apagón—is thought to have originated in a disturbance that affected two high-voltage lines, Colonia Elia Y Mercedes and Colonia […]

  • Voith supplies water to wire solution for small hydropower plant in Burundi

    Project is of high national importance since it will support the economic and social development for the local population Works on the East African small hydropower plant Kabu 16 started in March 2019 Significant small hydropower potential in Africa HEIDENHEIM/CIBITOKE PROVINCE. The technology group Voith has won an order to design, manufacture and supply the […]

  • The POWER Interview: State of the Wind, Solar, Storage, and Hydro Markets

    Increased power generation from renewable resources such as wind and solar also has created a growing market for energy storage. Generators want to harness that power and have it available when it’s needed, whether or not the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. Rob Allerman, senior director of Power Analytics for Drillinginfo, which […]

  • IIoT and the Future of Hydropower

    Hydropower has evolved through multiple industrial revolutions. Today, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 offer solutions to take the industry to a whole new level. Rules-based analysis

  • EIA: Gas, Renewables Outpacing Coal for Power Generation

    The percentage of coal-fired generation in the U.S. electricity mix will continue to decline, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said May 9, with gas-fired generation accounting for at least 40% of the nation’s power this summer and output from renewables continuing to rise. EIA’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) said coal-fired units will produce only […]

  • Northeast Hydro Think Tank Teams Compete – May 20-23

    Niskayuna, NY – The Northeast Hydro Think Tank sponsors–GE Renewable Energy, Brookfield Renewable, New York Power Authority and the Hydropower Foundation–are pleased to announce that the competition begins May 20. The sponsors believe that hydro industry real-world problems can be tackled by the next generation of leaders through education and hands-on experience. This intense four […]

  • How the DOE Is Looking to Save Hydropower

    The Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled a slate of measures to help U.S. hydropower thrive as costs for wind and solar plummet. Measures will include a roadmap to identify hydro’s value in a future grid, and a first-of-its-kind prize designed to encourage innovative and faster pumped storage construction techniques. In her opening speech at Waterpower […]

  • New York Power Authority and Municipal and Cooperative Electric Systems Extend Hydropower Contract to 2040

    The 51 Municipal and Rural Electric Cooperative Systems throughout New York Are Adopting the State’s Clean Energy Goals  WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) Board of Trustees has approved a contract extension of low-cost hydropower for all 51 New York electric systems through September 1, 2040. Under the terms of the new power contract, […]

  • Cyberattack Debilitates Major Aluminum and Hydropower Producer

    Norsk Hydro, a major global aluminum producer that is also Norway’s third-largest producer of hydropower, has been stricken by an extensive cyberattack—reportedly ransomware—that forced its entire global network offline. The company powers its sizable aluminum production operations with 20 hydropower plants concentrated in Telemark, Røldal-Suldal, Sogn, and Vennesla, producing a total 10 TWh per year. […]

  • RusHydro Commissions Third Hydropower Unit at Ust-Srednekanskaya Power Plant

    Moscow, Russia. RusHydro announces commissioning of the third hydropower unit at Ust-Srednekanskaya hydropower plant, the country’s largest hydropower plant currently under construction located on the Kolyma River in the Magadan region of the Far Eastern Federal District. The plant’s installed capacity increased almost two fold – from 168 MW to 310.5 MW. Nikolay Shulginov, Chairman […]

  • GE Renewable Energy awarded a $87M hydropower contract in Cameroon

    GE Renewable Energy to provide seven 60 MW hydropower Francis turbines for the Nachtigal hydropower plant The project will be performed in consortium with Elecnor, led by GE Renewable Energy GE’s turbines will help to increase the access to electricity for Cameroonians and make it sustainable Paris, February 26, 2019 – GE Renewable Energy was awarded […]

  • Voith wins modernization order for Togolese hydropower plant Nangbeto

    Voith wins modernization order for Togolese hydropower plant Nangbeto Extensive modernization ensures a future-oriented operation of the West African power plant for the next 30 years High level of involvement of local partners creates jobs on site Training courses enable the operators to handle upgraded components properly Heidenheim. Voith is the general contractor for the […]

  • Hydro: An Old Generating Dog Can Offer New Tricks

    Hydroelectric power doesn’t get much attention in today’s discussions of how to generate electricity, particularly in a world looking to boost renewable technologies such as wind and solar. But the oldest

  • POWER Digest [January 2019]

    EDF Inks Agreement for O&M Services at UAE Nuclear Plant. French nuclear power plant operator EDF will operate and maintain the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under a

  • ABB brings remote Chilean hydropower fleet under close control

    ABB Ability™ digital control technology is optimizing the remote support of Enel Generación’s hydropower fleet across Chile, improving coordination and information-sharing and ultimately helping the country reach its renewable energy targets. With electricity demand set to grow considerably, Chile’s generation capacity has more than tripled over the past two decades. Poised to become a potentially […]

  • Hydropower Bill Overwhelmingly Clears Senate, Heads to President’s Desk

    The U.S. Senate has cleared a major water infrastructure bill that contains several provisions promoting hydropower development, sending it to the president’s desk. The Senate passed S. 3021, “America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018,” on October 10 through a bipartisan vote of 99–1. Because the House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill in a voice […]

  • Dam Collapse May Slow, but Not Stop, Laotian Hydropower Projects

    The Laotian government in August said the approval process for new hydroelectric dams in the country should be suspended as it continued to review construction practices. The move came after more than three

  • EIA Report Says Coal Still King on State-by-State Basis

    A report this week from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows coal-fired power was still the major source of generation on a state-by-state basis in 2017, though natural gas-fueled electricity production slightly outpaced coal overall The EIA’s report, published September 10, said 18 states relied on coal for the bulk of their power generation […]

  • Hydro Project Overcomes Physical, Social Obstacles

    Hydropower is Brazil’s major source of electricity. The country is moving toward more generation from solar and wind, and away from so-called “mega dams,” but what could be a final mammoth hydro project

  • NYPA Tests Sensors at Niagara Plant to Alert Plants to Potential Problems, Improve Performance

    LEWISTON–The New York Power Authority has moved a step closer toward becoming the nation’s first all-digital electric utility by testing an array of sensors at its Robert Moses-Niagara Power Plant that will help determine the life expectancy of key equipment and head off potential problems before they can affect operations. Data from about 100 sensors […]

  • Death Toll Likely to Rise After Dam Failure at Laos Hydro Project

    More than two dozen people have died in southeastern Laos after part of a newly built hydroelectric dam broke on July 23, flooding nearby villages. Government officials on July 25 said it had confirmed 26 deaths, with fears the death toll will rise with more than 130 people officially listed as missing and heavy rain […]

  • Hydropower Grows but Industry Is Changing

    New hydropower capacity installed worldwide plunged 36% in 2017 compared to 2016, but the sector remains optimistic about its future despite a transitioning role for hydropower away from baseload power and

  • West’s Largest Coal Plant Could Get a Lifeline

    The Navajo Generating Station (NGS) in Arizona is scheduled to close by year-end 2019, but intervention by the federal government could keep the West’s largest coal-fired power plant operating. At the same time, more than 300 of the plant’s workers, along with family members, union representatives and tribal leaders, held a rally in Phoenix on […]

  • Pioneer of small hydro technology: Kössler celebrates its 90th birthday

    Numerous guests celebrate anniversary of Voith subsidiary at Kössler headquarters in St. Georgen, Austria Focus of celebration on innovative solutions for small hydro All key areas of expertise from development to services from a single source St. Georgen. Since its establishment in 1928, Kössler has evolved into one of the world’s leading manufacturers for small […]