World news | Malaysia
Ulu Padas reservoir certified as low-carbon under global GHG assessment tool The Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project in Sabah, Malaysia, has been validated as a low-carbon reservoir using the G-Res Tool, a greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment framework developed by the International Hydropower Association and researchers at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). According to project developer Gamuda Berhad, the reservoir recorded emissions of 19.9 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (gCO2
e/kWh). This is
significantly below the commonly referenced global threshold of 100 gCO2
e/kWh used in
the hydropower sector to distinguish low- emission projects. The G-Res Tool is a peer-reviewed, science-based model used to estimate net GHG emissions from freshwater reservoirs. It evaluates emissions from sources including carbon dioxide and methane, taking into account factors such as reservoir size, depth, climate conditions, and pre-existing land use. The tool reports emissions intensity relative to electricity generation, allowing comparison with other energy sources. The methodology has been adopted
across the hydropower industry and is aligned with the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, which provides guidelines for environmental and social performance. Industry bodies including the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance promote its use to improve transparency and comparability of hydropower emissions data. Hydropower reservoirs can emit
greenhouse gases, particularly methane, due to the decomposition of organic matter in flooded areas. Emissions vary widely depending on design and location. Studies associated with the G-Res framework indicate that deeper reservoirs in tropical regions can reduce methane release by limiting the breakdown of vegetation in oxygen-poor conditions near the surface. The Ulu Padas project is planned as a
large-scale hydroelectric development on the Padas River in Sabah’s interior and is expected to have an installed capacity of around 187 MW. The scheme includes a dam, reservoir, power intake and underground or surface powerhouse, along with associated transmission infrastructure to connect generation to the regional grid. The project is being developed to support growing electricity demand in Sabah and to strengthen grid stability, particularly by providing firm, dispatchable renewable power to complement variable energy sources. Gamuda said the Ulu Padas project incorporates design measures aimed at reducing emissions, including a deep reservoir configuration, vegetation clearing prior to inundation, and planned replanting
6 | June 2026 |
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programmes. These measures are intended to minimise organic decomposition and support longer-term ecosystem management. he project is being developed in partnership with local stakeholders including Sabah Energy Corporation and is part of broader efforts to expand renewable energy capacity in Malaysia. Hydropower remains a key component of the country’s energy mix, particularly in East Malaysia, where large-scale river systems offer development potential.
UK Tractebel to support Dinorwig pumped storage refurbishment Tractebel will support the refurbishment of the Dinorwig pumped storage power plant in North Wales, the largest facility of its kind in the UK. The company has been appointed by First Hydro Company (FHC), which is majority owned by ENGIE, to provide technical assistance during the design phase of the upgrade programme.
Commissioned in 1983, Dinorwig has an installed capacity of around 1.8GW. The underground facility houses six fixed-speed Francis pump turbines, each rated at 313.5MW, and plays a key role in grid stability due to its fast response capability.
FHC, owned 75% by ENGIE and 25% by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, has launched a full refurbishment of the plant as major electrical and mechanical components approach the end of their design life. Tractebel’s role includes support across conceptual, basic and detailed design review. Its scope covers turbine hydraulic model testing, hydraulic transient calculations, turbine mechanical design, generator design, electrical and mechanical balance of plant, instrumentation and control systems, as well as risk management and quality assurance. The refurbishment programme is divided into
three stages. Stage 1 focuses on design and site surveys and is currently underway. Stage 2 will involve refurbishment of the first two units, while Stage 3 will address the remaining units. Full completion is expected by 2035.
The upgrade will replace and optimise key components to improve efficiency, reliability and operational flexibility.
US
Eco Wave Power completes Los Angeles pilot with Shell Eco Wave Power Global AB has submitted its final project completion report to Shell International Exploration and Production Inc., concluding a wave energy pilot programme at the Port of Los Angeles under a 2024 Pilot Test Agreement. The company said the submission marks completion of all contractual milestones, ending a development programme that progressed from feasibility analysis through
engineering design, installation, operational testing and final reporting. The collaboration began with a feasibility study of the US coastline, identifying 77 sites with potential for wave energy deployment. This led to a pilot installation at AltaSea in the Port of Los Angeles, structured as a phased, milestone-based programme with funding tied to delivery of defined stages. Eco Wave Power reported that it completed permitting, engineering design, manufacturing and installation of the system, followed by an operational trial under real marine conditions. According to the company, the pilot
validated integration with existing marine infrastructure without the need for seabed anchoring, offshore construction or subsea cabling. It also confirmed regulatory feasibility, including approvals under the US Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit 52 and a Port of Los Angeles revocable permit, alongside environmental reviews under NEPA and CEQA that found no significant impact. The company said the system operated
reliably under varying marine and tidal conditions without structural degradation, and that total capital expenditure for the pilot remained below $1 million. Eco Wave Power added that its technology
was referenced in a report by a US Department of Energy national laboratory, which highlighted potential advantages of systems integrated into existing coastal infrastructure, including reduced installation complexity and lower infrastructure requirements. “This project followed a clear and disciplined development path – beginning with a comprehensive feasibility study of the U.S. coastline, advancing through engineering, installation and operational testing, and concluding with final delivery under the Pilot Test Agreement with Shell,” commented Inna Braverman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Wave Power. “Successfully completing the full scope of this program demonstrates Eco Wave Power’s ability to execute complex wave energy projects together with leading global energy companies.” The Port of Los Angeles installation will continue operating as a demonstration and educational facility. Eco Wave Power said the completed pilot provides a reference for future commercial-scale deployments on breakwaters, port structures and other coastal infrastructure.
Switzerland Voith wins Grimsel 4 pumped storage contract Voith has been awarded a contract by Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO) to supply electromechanical equipment for the Grimsel 4 pumped storage project in Switzerland. The contract covers the supply and
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