75th Anniversary |
Powering the future: Stable energy for fluctuating needs
Hydropower – clean, sustainable, and more efficient than any other energy source – has always been the quiet achiever of the energy sector. It’s a key player in the shift towards renewable energy. Voith is utilising its extensive experience, innovative capabilities, and passion to optimise the use of hydro – now and in the future. Report by Dr. Tobias Keitel, President & CEO, Voith Hydro
FROM POPULATION GROWTH AND technological advancements to increasing industrialisation, the global demand for energy has been steadily rising since the 1950s. Unlike in the past, we now understand that oil, coal, and gas are not sustainable solutions to meet this demand. To make the transition to renewable energy a success, we can rely on a proven foundation since decades: hydropower.
From hidden champion to protagonist
Above: Dr. Tobias Keitel, President & CEO Voith Hydro
of the energy transition The role of hydropower has evolved over the years. Once a hidden champion that unobtrusively secured the baseload energy supply for entire nations, it is now a cornerstone of the future energy mix. Hydropower is not only the leading supplier of renewable energy, but it is also the only sustainable and reliable method
to counterbalance the variations caused by the intermittent nature of other renewable energies such as wind and solar. This shift has also redirected the priorities for manufacturers of hydropower technology. There remains substantial potential for new large-scale projects globally. These continue to play a significant role in the economic development of entire regions, as evidenced by Voith’s expanding operations in Africa for example. However aging assets and new requirements towards hydropower shift, the focus increasingly turning towards modernisation and service.
The time has come to modernise At present, a wave of extensive modernisation is
sweeping across numerous significant facilities worldwide. These include Porto Colombia and Paulo Afonso in South America, Fort Randall and Norfolk in the US, or Foyers and Gerlos in Europe, to name a few. These systems aren’t just upgraded with new components; the modernisation process itself benefits from cutting-edge technologies. Take Building Information Modeling (BIM), for instance. BIM enables digital capture, management, and visualisation of system information, facilitating both modernisation and maintenance. These modernisation initiatives are of paramount importance, especially in the context of sustainable and secure energy supply. They ensure the reliable operation of these facilities while also upgrading the hydropower capacities to meet the evolving demands of renewable power generation. Consequently, these plants enhance grid stability and bolster the security of supply. Environmental considerations, such as sediment management solutions and retrofitting for fish protection, are also gaining importance.
In line with this, the design of hydropower plants is
Above: Today, modern digital 3D visualisation methods such as BIM support the modernisation process in hydropower
Right: Ready for modernisation: The Porto Colombia hydropower plant dams the Rio Grande, which at this point forms the border between the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo in Brazil
34 | May 2024 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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