| World news “Pumped hydro storage offers much-needed
flexibility to the Nordic energy system and increases predictability for households and industries. Pumped hydro storage has the ability to both produce, store, and consume electricity during long periods of time and in great amounts, reaching up to thousands of megawatts. Fortum owns and operates three pumped hydro storage plants in Sweden since years and we have deep in-house expertise in the technology,” said Mikael Lemström, EVP Fortum Hydro. Any future investment decisions will be made after completing the study.
Bhutan
BHEL commissions two units of Punatsangchhu-II project, Bhutan Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has successfully commissioned the first two units of the 6x170MW Punatsangchhu-II hydroelectric project (PHEP-II) in Bhutan. The project, developed under a bilateral agreement between India and Bhutan, is located in Wangdue district. The Francis Turbine installed in Punatsangchhu-II is designed to operate at a rated head of 241m, the highest for any Francis- type hydro turbine in Bhutan. Once all six units are operational, the project is expected to generate 4,357GWh annually. Units 1 and 2 were synchronized on December 16 and 17, 2024, respectively. BHEL’s role in Punatsangchhu-II includes the design, manufacture, supply, installation, and commissioning of electro-mechanical components, including six 170MW Vertical Francis Turbines and generators, a control and monitoring system, generator transformers, shunt reactor, bus duct, and other auxiliaries. The equipment was supplied from BHEL’s facilities in Bhopal, Jhansi, Rudrapur, and Bengaluru, with site erection and commissioning managed by its Power Sector- Eastern Region division in Kolkata. BHEL has previously executed major
hydro projects in Bhutan, including Chukha (4x84MW), Kurichhu (4x15MW), Tala (6x170MW), and Mangdechhu (4x180MW). With the commissioning of these two units at Punatsangchhu-II, BHEL’s contribution to Bhutan’s installed hydro capacity now stands at nearly 89%.
Scotland Norconsult to oversee next phase of Cruachan power station upgrade
Power company Drax has awarded Norconsult an extended contract to oversee the refurbishment of two generating units at Scotland’s Cruachan Power Station, the country’s largest pumped storage hydropower facility. Norconsult will monitor the delivery of new equipment and construction work on behalf of Drax.
Norconsult has been involved in the project since 2023 as the Owner’s Engineer, and will continue to provide technical expertise and project management as part of the station’s upgrade. Drax aims to replace all key components in two of the four units while increasing the facility’s installed capacity. “Norconsult views pumped PSH in Europe
as strategically important for the stability of the power system. It is therefore gratifying that our strong hydropower expertise helps our clients lead the way in preparing the power system for future needs,” said Håkon Bergsodden, Director of Hydropower and Power Transmission at Norconsult. Pumped storage plants such as Cruachan are critical for maintaining grid stability in the UK, which relies on a mix of offshore wind and less flexible thermal power production. Commissioned in 1965, Cruachan has four
reversible pump turbines, each originally rated at 100MW. Two units were upgraded to 120MW in 2005, and the remaining two are now set for a major overhaul. Norconsult is providing expertise across multiple engineering disciplines and advising on design and equipment deliveries. “It is technically challenging to upgrade a pumped storage plant like Cruachan, as large components need to be replaced inside a relatively narrow mountain hall. At the same time, there are strict operational requirements in the United Kingdom, and with increased forces resulting from increased capacity, there are several major assessments required to ensure functionality and reliability,” said Trond Moltubakk, Norconsult’s pump turbine expert and project manager for the first phase of the upgrade.
Laos
Nam Sam 3 hydropower plant begins commercial operation The Nam Sam 3 hydropower plant in Laos officially started commercial operations in February. The plant, with a capacity of 156MW, was developed by SCI Group as the EPC contractor and has now been handed over to the project owner, Nam Sam 3 Power Sole Limited Company, part of the Phongsubthavy Group. Located in Houaphan province, northeast Laos, 30km from the Laos-Vietnam border, the project includes a main dam built using RCC (roller compacted concrete) technology. The dam stands at a height of 121.7m, with a 9.1km main tunnel and a surge tank 225 m tall. The plant is also connected to a 230 kV substation. The project began in October 2019 and faced challenges including difficult terrain, harsh weather, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, SCI Group’s team of experts, engineers, and workers completed the plant on schedule and to the required standards.
Following a 72-hour reliability test of the three generator units, the plant was officially put into commercial operation at 1:00 AM on February 5, 2025. SCI Group will continue to monitor the plant’s operation. The plant is expected to generate an average of 626 million kWh per year, providing a reliable and clean energy source. It will contribute to energy security in northern Vietnam and support the socio-economic development of the region. Additionally, the project strengthens the cooperation between the governments of Laos and Vietnam.
Wales Anglesey Mining and RheEnergise to explore underground energy storage at Parys Mountain Mine Anglesey Mining plc and RheEnergise have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the feasibility of deploying RheEnergise’s High-Density Hydro® (HD Hydro) energy storage technology at the Parys Mountain mine site. The project aims to support Anglesey’s renewable energy initiatives and provide a reliable source of clean energy for future mining and mineral processing operations. HD Hydro technology is based on traditional pumped energy storage but uses a high-density fluid that is 2.5 times denser than water. This allows for installations that require significantly less elevation and are smaller and more cost-effective than conventional water-based systems.
Under the agreement, the companies will investigate the potential use of the existing 300m deep Morris Shaft at Parys Mountain for a hydro-energy storage project. The initial phase will involve a scoping study to assess the project’s technical and economic feasibility, including environmental impact evaluations and regulatory requirements. Both parties will collaborate to secure non-dilutive funding to advance the project through feasibility studies, construction, and commissioning. “RheEnergise has demonstrated that it is
able to deliver demonstrator projects here in the UK,” said Rob Marsden, Chief Executive of Anglesey Mining. “The infrastructure and mothballed assets at Parys Mountain provide an ideal site at which to place a commercial-scale plant. Anglesey Mining are relentlessly focused on delivering a polymetallic underground mine at Parys Mountain. Securing a source of consistent green power on site while benefiting from the synergies between deployment of the technology and establishing a presence back underground at Parys Mountain is key to the strategy of de-risking the incremental development of the mine.” The initiative aims to demonstrate the practical application of HD Hydro technology while contributing to the redevelopment of the Parys Mountain mine.
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