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Langevatn raising the reservoir regulation height by 10m, a 13km transfer tunnel between Langevatn and Nåvatn, the 1.6MW Kvernevatn power plant, and new dam structures at Skjerkevatn to replace older facilities in line with updated safety requirements. A new 6km, 132kV transmission line will also connect the Øygard plant to the Honna substation. Å Energi said the developments have increased renewable power generation and strengthened security of supply in the region. The company has also signed a long- term power purchase agreement with Bulk Infrastructure in connection with the Øygard investment, providing greater predictability for the project’s revenue.
US NYPA expands drone
inspections for dams and energy infrastructure after FAA waiver The New York Power Authority has received a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration allowing expanded use of drones to inspect energy infrastructure, including dams, transmission lines and other power assets across New York State. The waiver enables NYPA-certified pilots to
operate unmanned aircraft systems beyond the visual line of sight of the pilot and introduces a new operational model in which a single pilot can oversee up to four drones simultaneously. NYPA operates a large fleet of hydropower and transmission assets in the state, and drones are already used to inspect dam infrastructure, including spillways where they can map potential erosion, as well as transmission corridors and vegetation near power lines. “This increased capability will streamline inspection processes, expedite data collection and bolster the Power Authority’s capacity to monitor its energy infrastructure across New York State,” the authority said. NYPA’s drone program currently supports
drone inspections across 1,550 miles of power transmission as well as generation facilities and infrastructure operated by the New York State Canal Corporation. “The New York Power Authority is one of the first utilities in the nation to receive this expanded four to one waiver,” said NYPA Robotics Program Manager Peter Kalaitzidis. “Conducting standardised four-drones-to-one-pilot operations at our sites will allow for more consistent inspection workflows across our energy assets and electric grid regions. We are currently creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and validating the technology to ensure we are fully prepared and have all safety protocols in place to implement expanded observation activities.” NYPA first received approval from the FAA in 2022 to conduct limited beyond-visual-line- of-sight drone flights using one drone per pilot. Those operations have already been used for transmission drone inspections, vegetation management and dam spillway erosion mapping.
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The authority currently has 146 employees certified as drone pilots and plans to invest more than $37m in the drone program through 2028. Under the new model, drones will fly
autonomous missions along predefined routes, enabling inspections without continuous manual control. NYPA said this approach will allow monitoring to occur during overnight periods or in severe weather conditions, when thermal and visual data can be particularly valuable. For example, drones can monitor infrastructure during ice storms or extreme cold conditions, when ground inspections may be difficult or hazardous. The waiver was obtained with support from Skydio, which provides both drone equipment and regulatory advisory services. The approval authorizes operations through 2030 and applies specifically to Skydio systems. “This latest approval enables a single operator
to conduct up to four simultaneous missions, multiplying the safety and efficiency gains already achieved by the program and unlocking significant operational scale,” said Daniel Jenkins, Regulatory Program Manager, Skydio. “This milestone underscores the value of Skydio’s autonomy: putting machines in harm’s way instead of people, while delivering more reliable energy, and reducing response times for outages for all New Yorkers.” NYPA said multi-drone operations will support continuous monitoring and automated alerts for abnormal conditions, allowing staff to intervene only when necessary. The system could also support aerial security patrols around critical infrastructure. The program will be phased in over the coming years. NYPA plans to test four drone systems with the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, which will evaluate inspection procedures and operational protocols.
Bhutan Lahmeyer consortium begins work on Chamkharchhu I hydropower project studies A consortium led by Lahmeyer International GmbH has begun work on updating the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and preparing the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the 770MW Chamkharchhu I hydropower project in Bhutan. The assignment, commissioned in February, is being carried out by Lahmeyer International in partnership with ERM-Siam Co., Ltd. and Druk Consult International Pvt. Ltd.. The Chamkharchhu I project is planned in Zhemgang district and is designed as a run-of-river hydropower scheme. Key project components include a 108m concrete gravity dam, a 19.2km headrace tunnel, and an underground powerhouse with an installed capacity of 770MW.
Under the contract, the consortium will
review and update the project’s detailed design documentation and optimise hydrological, geological and structural elements. The work
will also include preparation of tender-level engineering drawings and updating the design to comply with current engineering and regulatory standards. The ESIA will assess potential environmental and social impacts of the project, identify associated risks, and propose mitigation measures in accordance with international standards. The Chamkharchhu I assignment marks
Lahmeyer International’s first hydropower project in Bhutan. The project forms part of Bhutan’s plans to expand hydropower generation and support national energy development.
Romania Litostroj secures Stejaru hydropower contract Litostroj Power has signed a contract with S.S.H. Hidroserv S.A. of Bucharest to supply key equipment for the Stejaru hydropower plant in north-eastern Romania, marking the company’s return to the country’s hydropower sector. The Stejaru hydropower plant, located on the Bistrița River, is a storage-type facility and forms part of Romania’s renewable energy infrastructure. It is equipped with four Francis turbine units, each with a nominal capacity of 24.71MW. The plant operates with a net head of 115m, a nominal discharge of 23.5m3/sec, and a rotational speed of 500 rpm. Under the contract, Litostroj Power will design, manufacture, deliver, and oversee installation and commissioning of the main hydro-mechanical equipment. The scope includes four Francis turbines, hydraulic pressure units, digital turbine regulators, and main turbine inlet valves, along with a full set of spare parts. The project is scheduled for completion by April 2031. Litostroj Power, part of the Czech-based
Wikov Group, said the agreement strengthens its presence in Southeastern Europe and supports the modernisation of Romania’s hydropower fleet. The company has previously been active in the Romanian market. S.S.H. Hidroserv is responsible for
maintenance and rehabilitation services across Romania’s hydropower sector, and the Stejaru hydropower project forms part of ongoing efforts to improve reliability and performance of existing assets.
India
Subansiri Lower hydroelectric project advances as units come online
India’s 2000MW Subansiri Lower hydroelectric project has commissioned two of its eight generating units, with the remaining capacity scheduled to come online in phases through December 2026, the Ministry of Power said. The project, located on the Subansiri River at the Arunachal Pradesh–Assam border and developed by NHPC Ltd, consists of eight units of 250MW each. Electricity from the first two units
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