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to approximately 0.36% of initial capacity, the UNU-INWEH study says, noting that figure may err on the conservative side. Previous attempts to estimate a global annual rate of loss from initial reservoir capacity generally agree on a range between 0.5% and 1%. Many other studies suggest, however, that
reservoir sedimentation rates and associated storage losses are site-specific and vary significantly between regions. For example, other researchers have estimated the loss from 190 California reservoirs at more than 50% from their original capacities, with 120 reservoirs having lost over 75%. A similar study predicted Japan’s Sakuma reservoir will lose around 44% of its initial capacity by 2040. Authors of the new paper note that their
rough estimates could be greatly improved through consistent basin-wide monitoring of sediment transport and frequent bathymetry surveys of individual reservoirs.
EChina
All units at 1.2GW Jinzhai pumped storage plant in commercial operation
All four units at the 1.2GW Jinzhai pumped storage power plant in China have now been successfully connected to the grid and have completed 15 days of trial operation, GE Hydro Solutions has announced. GE was selected in 2017 by Anhui Jinzhai Pumped Storage Power Co., LTD, one of the divisions of State Grid Xin Yuan, to supply four new 300MW pumped storage turbines, generator-motors as well as the balance of plant equipment for the Anhui Jinzhai pumped storage power plant located in the Jinzhai County, Anhui Province, China. The first two units were connected to the grid in October 2022. “Pumped Storage is the largest source of
energy storage that exists today, which can help stabilize the grid with the integration of wind and solar power. The Jinzhai pumped storage project now fully operational will provide for a huge amount of clean energy to China and will help stabilize the grid to ultimately help integrate more renewable energies in a reliable way,” commented Pascal Radue, President & CEO, GE Hydro Solutions. “The beauty of hydropower projects is that it is set to be operational for the very long term, about 80 years, meaning that the project will provide affordable energy for several generations to come.”
Estonia
Green light for construction of Estonia’s first pumped storage project
Construction work is set to start in summer 2024 on the first pumped storage project in Estonia, with developer Energiasalv announcing it has received an official permit to build the 550MW plant. Named Zero Terrain, the underground project is set to be constructed in Paldiski, northwestern
Estonia. Energiasalv said the storage plant has minor environmental and land-use impact and can therefore be implemented in urban areas. The project enables the deployment of renewable energy generation in the region and will significantly lower consumers’ electricity bills. “Emission-free energy with a high security of supply at an affordable price is only possible with large-scale and long-term energy storage. I am proud that Energiasalv’s Zero Terrain project can provide the region with an energy supply that will meet future requirements,” said Peep Siitam, CEO of Energiasalv. “Considering we are in the middle of an energy crisis, our team is moving at a speed and strength comparable to the water itself.” “Having completed our permitting process with the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, we are glad to announce that we will continue with the pre- qualification for the construction procurement in the beginning of February. We aim to finalize the tender process by the end of 2023 and start construction on the project in the summer of 2024,” added Sander Astor, Chief Technical Officer of Energiasalv. . Energiasalv’s Zero Terrain is an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI project). Being the strategic infrastructure project, its preparation has been supported by the Connecting Europe Facility – managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Energiasalv is owned by the Estonian energy company AS Alexela, Baltic- Polish renewable energy company Sunly AS, and Vool OÜ belonging to the company’s CEO.
Canada Percepto to deploy automated drones for remote monitoring of Canadian Dam In a first of its kind approval by Transport Canada, a drone-in-a-box solution from autonomous inspection and monitoring solution provider Percepto is to monitor Ontario Power Generation Inc’s (OPG) McConnell Lake Control Dam without a visual observer on site. A Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) was issued for the Percepto Air Max autonomous drone-in-a-box, as provided by Rocky Mountain Unmanned Systems and their GM Kevin Toderal, to perform remote inspections in a pilot project starting this month. The announcement comes shortly after
Percepto achieved a US nationwide BVLOS waiver, allowing qualified Percepto customers to immediately gain actionable insights from remotely operated drones. Percepto’s automated drone-in-a-box technology has been deployed by other electric utilities to monitor the durability of power grid infrastructure and quickly detect problems, enabling faster response times and restoring power quicker after storms and other disasters. “Obtaining this certificate marks a significant
6 | February 2023 |
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milestone in Canada to provide remote and autonomous inspections at power generating facilities, fulfilling Percepto’s mission to provide safe and reliable critical infrastructure,” said Percepto Policy & Government Affairs VP Neta Gliksman. “We look forward to growing our strong working relationship with Transport Canada and supporting their efforts to create a thriving environment for drone operations by making autonomous drone technology available to power stations and other critical infrastructure across the country.” Percepto operations will be coordinated on a single platform through the company’s Autonomous Inspection and Monitoring (AIM) solution. With Percepto AIM, drones can be operated remotely to ensure they work together in sync, providing maximum site coverage with increased safety, efficiency and ease of operation,” said the company. “We look forward to gaining new operation and infrastructure insights at McConnell Lake Control Dam,” said Ontario Power Generation Senior Information System Specialist Tim Trebilcock. “Our hope is that this technology will help our efforts to ensure asset integrity and reliable electricity generation for Ontarians.”
US
Charbone Hydrogen agrees to buy Michigan small hydropower plants
Charbone Hydrogen Corporation has agreed to buy three operating hydropower plants in Michigan with a combined capacity of 2.76MW in a $3.6 million deal.
Charbone concluded the final negotiations
and executed the Purchase and Sale Agreement on 17 January between its wholly owned subsidiary, Charbone Corporation USA, and Northwoods Hydropower Inc for the acquisition of all of the general partner and limited partner interests of Tower Kleber Limited Partnership (TKLP) a Michigan Limited Partnership and Black River Limited Partnership, (BRLP), respectively the owner of the Tower 560kW, Kleber 1200kW and Alverno 1000kW operating hydropower plants in the Onaway, Michigan area. The Limited Partnerships are parties to
long-term Power Purchase Agreements with large local utilities and it is expected to increase Charbone USA’s recurrent revenues for 2023 and beyond for the duration of the PPA’s. The Michigan plants are also generating revenues from the sale of Renewable Energy Certificates. Charbone’s strategy is to acquire its own
hydropower plants, modernize and optimize them to increase their production capacity and, consequently, the value of the assets for Charbone and our shareholders, and to further assist Charbone with its deployment of a green hydrogen regional hub in Michigan and other locations.
Charbone plans to develop and construct modular and scalable green hydrogen
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