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to the Commonwealth the ability to get it right, learning from the broad and deep experience of our members that span across all the world.” The new partnership will build on the work of the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda, which supports cooperation amongst member countries to accelerate an inclusive, just and equitable energy transition, and the Commonwealth Climate Change Programme.
Brazil/Paraguay GE led consortium to upgrade Itaipu hydro plant in Brazil and Paraguay
A consortium led by GE Renewable Energy’s hydropower business will be responsible for the technological upgrade of the 14GW Itaipu hydropower plant on the Paraná River between Brazil and Paraguay. GE Renewable Energy’s Hydro and Grid Solutions businesses have jointly signed a contract for the project, considered the largest technological upgrade of the hydropower plant since its inauguration nearly 40 years ago. The upgrade includes equipment and
systems of all 20 power generating units as well as the improvement of the hydropower plant’s measurement, protection, control, regulation and monitoring systems. In total, Itaipu Binacional covers an average 8.4% of Brazilian and 85.6% of Paraguayan electricity consumption. “It is an honor and an obligation for us to participate in this largest technological upgrade project of Itaipu since its commissioning,” commented Pascal Radue, CEO and President of GE Renewable Energy Hydro Solutions. “Because of its relevance in providing clean energy to the people of Paraguay and Brazil, Itaipu is key to avoiding future energy crises and ensuring affordable energy for generations to come. Likewise, we look forward to working with GE Grid Solutions to optimize the plant’s operations further enabling Itaipu Binacional to make the most of its assets and resources and meet the demand for clean energy in both countries.” The implementation of the project is scheduled to last 14 years and is supported by the Paraguayan partner companies CIE and Tecnoedil (responsible for the assembly and supply of general materials, respectively). In addition to the modernization of the 20 power generating units, GE’s general scope of supply includes the supply of medium voltage cubicles, energy management systems, automation technology as well as the delivery of protection, control and supervision systems for the generating units, GIS substation and the existing 500 kV transmission lines, in addition to two new compact GIS substations to increase the reliability of the plant’s electrical auxiliary services. Itaipu’s executive technical director, David Krug, points out that the upgrade of the plant is the result of extensive planning that began in the early 2000s and went through several phases. According to Krug, the investment is necessary because many assets are still analog
6 | June 2022 |
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or technologically outdated and have been in operation for almost 40 years. In some cases, the manufacturer no longer exists, making it impossible to replace parts. “If we upgrade the plant technologically, the
problem of spare parts is eliminated,” Krug said. “The big advantage is this - we are upgrading the plant to a new state of the art facility and, in doing so, improving the efficiency of the operation and maintenance processes.”
Australia
New pumped hydro and green hydrogen project planned for Queensland Australian renewable energy firm Sunshine Hydro has announced details of its plans to build a $2 billion pumped hydro and green hydrogen project within the Central Queensland Renewable Energy Zone. The ‘Flavian’ project is expected to start generating from 2028, powering local industry with renewable energy and heavy trucks with green hydrogen to help decarbonise the Queensland economy. The project will apply Sunshine Hydro’s closed loop hydropower model as part of a Superhybrid™ to generate reliable green power and green hydrogen. It will be located near Miriam Vale, which has been described as having the ideal topography for the project. Sunshine Hydro Chair, Michael Myer, said the company are partnering with Energy Estate, an Australian renewable energy and green hydrogen developer, to co-develop and provide green energy to power the Flavian project. It has also put in place valuable partnerships with Burnett Mary Regional Group BMRG, and the traditional owners, the Gidarjil Development Corporation. “Through these strong partnerships, we will deliver one of the world’s most sustainable renewable energy projects, with extensive conservation and biodiversity outcomes across the site,” Myer said. “The Flavian Superhybrid will abate on average 4 million tonnes of carbon p.a., which is around 2.5% of the Queensland’s current level of annual carbon emissions, while generating cheaper energy to place downward pressure on energy prices.” Land for the project has been secured,
and planning has commenced with a final investment decision targeted for 2025 and energy production from 2028.
China World’s first 600 r/min pumped storage unit in commercial operation The world’s first reversible pumped storage unit with 600 r/min and 350 has been successfully placed into operation at the Changlongshan pumped storage plant in E Zhejiang Province, China, Voith Hydro has announced. Voith has provided two complete power
units (5 and 6) to the six unit project, which has an installed capacity of 2.1GW. Unit 5 successfully passed the 15-day trial operation at the beginning of May and was officially put into commercial operation. The performance of unit 5 received outstanding feedback from the owners and experts in the industry. “The data showed that the unit meets our excellence criteria and thereby proves that the engineering, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the world’s first 600 r/min with 350 MW unit was successful,” said Zhang Chengping, mechanical and electrical Chief Engineer of plant operator, the China Three Gorges Group (CTG). The station has a rated head of 710m which is among the highest in China. The new unit’s rated speed of 600 r/min with a capacity of 350MW is a world’s first for such high-capacity and high-head units.
Scotland
Drax submits planning application to expand Cruachan facility in Scotland Renewable energy firm Drax has submitted its application for planning consent to build a new 600MW underground pumped storage hydro power station inside Ben Cruachan – Argyll’s highest mountain – with the plans set to double generating capacity at its Cruachan project in Scotland. The new station, which would increase the site’s
total capacity to 1.04GW, could be operational as soon as 2030 with construction work getting underway in 2024, removing around 2 million tonnes of rock from inside Ben Cruachan and creating hundreds of jobs across Scotland. The development – which could be the first newly constructed plant of its kind in the UK in more than 40 years – will provide critical storage capacity to strengthen the UK’s energy security and enable net zero. It will be a major infrastructure project which will support around 900 jobs during six years of construction across the supply chain in a range of industries from quarrying and engineering, to transport and hospitality. Around 150 on-site local construction jobs will also be created during the development, said Drax. “Drax’s plan to expand Cruachan will
strengthen the UK’s energy security by enabling more homegrown renewable electricity to come online to power homes and businesses across the country, helping to end our reliance on imports and cut costs,” commented Ian Kinnaird, Drax’s Scottish Assets Director. “This major infrastructure project will support hundreds of jobs and provide a real boost to the Scottish economy. Only by investing in long- duration storage technologies can the UK reach its full renewable potential, and Drax is ready to move mountains to do just that.” Claire Mack, Scottish Renewables Chief
Executive, added: “Pumped storage hydro is a critical technology needed to meet net zero. Over the last decade we have managed to
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