| Contents regulars
Cover Story Chimney Hollow Reservoir, the
main storage reservoir for the Windy Gap Project in Colorado, US, was completed in 2026
5 World News
EU hydropower sites could host 25GW of new renewables without grid upgrades, Ember says; Portugal targets 5GW pumped storage by 2040
features 12 16 18 20 10 Spotlight
Recent power cuts in the Philippines have demonstrated why modern
energy systems need to get to grips with renewable technologies
Classified
40 42
Contacts
27
North America 12
Designing safer low- level outlet gates ’
A risk-based methodology can help dam owners identify weaknesses and improve the safety of critical low-level outlet gate systems while designs are still being developed
16 30
Building Chimney Hollow reservoir
At the heart of the project was construction of an unusual type of dam which hadn’t been built in the US before
18
Michigan's dam safety lessons
Greater investment and a legislative push for improved safety are taking place across Michigan
34
20 The backbone of North America
From supply chain pressures to dam safety, and environmental research, the hydropower sector is confronting a diverse range of challenges
Monitoring & Inspection 24
Managing risks in hydropower tunnels
An updated review of historical tunnel collapses highlights the need for routine inspections and risk-based asset management of shotcrete- lined hydropower tunnels.
27
AI agents move into operations
Emerson is extending its Ovation automation platform with AI agents designed to support plant diagnostics, maintenance and control, as artificial intelligence moves closer to day-to-day power and water operations.
28
Smarter monitoring for China’s dams
Monitoring seismicity in the Yalong River Basin and using close range photogrammetry have been the focus of recent research efforts in China
Wave & Tidal Power 30
No longer a niche technology
There is vast potential for powering global electricity systems with ocean energy, even though current studies are somewhat limited with estimates showing ‘a mere fraction’ of the whole picture
Fish Passage 34
When engineering meets ecology
As flood and water infrastructure must increasingly deliver biodiversity net gains alongside flood and supply resilience, engineers are finding new ways to design for wildlife without compromising the assets people depend on
36
Fish passage in focus Fish passage projects within the hydro industry continue to evolve in response to new challenges and more information
Next issue Public safety around dams; floating solar-hydro hybrids; surveying and
advanced geotechnics; construction automation; multi-purpose infrastructure @waterpowermag
©Business Trade Media International ISSN 0306-400X
www.waterpowermagazine.com | September 2026 | 3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45
