| Insight
is shining and the wind is blowing to use when they are not. Pumped storage hydropower has the unique capacity to do that at huge scale well beyond the reach of even the largest batteries. Pumped hydro systems can also provide real inertia and grid stability in the clean energy world. The need for pumped hydro really dawned on me in 2016 when we had a massive blackout in South Australia, a state very dependent on wind generation. It was clear that we were phasing out continuous coal fired generation as solar and wind deployed but had not adequately planned for the storage we needed. Snowy 2.0 was my response.
What challenges do you think lie ahead for the hydro industry and the IHA? The stakes have never been higher, we are woefully off track from reaching our 2050 targets and sustainable hydropower is in a key position to help get us back on track. The hydro industry and IHA face several challenges in the coming years. COP28 leaders must act on their commitments to triple total global renewable power capacity by 2030 to at least 11,000GW and double energy efficiency improvement rates to be in hope of meeting 1.5oC goals. But it is not just about more renewables, it is about the right mix. Whilst the market is going to deliver more solar power and more wind power, it is less effective at rewarding technologies like hydropower that provide balance and flexibility.
Governments first need to plan for a balanced
renewables energy mix with long duration storage as well as generation and ensure that investors have long term certainty for their investment given the high initial capital costs of building large infrastructure. Moore’s Law does not apply to digging holes, hydro projects take time, more than it takes to build solar farms, and so we need to move much faster to deliver the pumped hydro we need.
Governments need to work with developers to identify potential sites, and there is no shortage of these, and then they need to establish the right policy
framework to reward flexibility and storage alongside generation. IHA advocates for policies that incentivise investment in hydropower and promoting its integration into national and global energy systems. The next challenge is ensuring that hydropower
development is carried out in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. This includes addressing concerns about the potential environmental and social impacts of hydropower projects, as well as navigating public perception. So once the site has been identified and the policies are in place, operators need to use the internationally recognised Hydropower Sustainability Standard to demonstrate good and best practice and to access finance.
What are your future hopes for the IHA? I envision the association continuing to raise awareness amongst policymakers and the public about the role of the hydropower sector in the clean energy transition, and to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing among industry stakeholders, policymakers, and the public. I hope to see IHA drive initiatives that enhance the sustainability and resilience of hydropower projects, while also advocating for policies that support the growth of the hydro industry. If policymakers and the industry don’t act now on energy balance, the progress will stall just as it needs to accelerate.
Why are organisations such as IHA so vital? In an increasingly interconnected world facing both climate and geopolitical challenges, organisations like IHA play a crucial role in driving positive change and shaping the future of energy generation. They bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the world, to share knowledge, develop best practices, and advocate for policies that support sustainable hydropower development. Furthermore, by joining together with other renewable technologies within the Global Renewables Alliance, IHA has set a course for delivering a clean energy transition by 2050.
www.waterpowermagazine.com | Yearbook 2024 | 17
Eddie Rich, CEO of the IHA, and Malcolm Turnbull talk with American politician and environmentalist, Al Gore, at COP28 held in Dubai in December 2023
Below: Malcolm Turnbull has been an advocate for pumped storage for many years. He says the need for pumped hydro really dawned on him in 2016 when there was a massive blackout in South Australia during his time as Prime Minister
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 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230
