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renewable energy,” said Robert Wall, Head of Sustainable Private Infrastructure at LAM. “We recognize a distinctive opportunity in Italy, given its unique climate, terrain, and fragmented SHEPPs market. RENFIN is a highly regarded and experienced partner, and we are thrilled to embark on this venture together.” “We take pride in being a major owner and
operator of SHEPPs in Italy, the UK, Czech Republic and key geographies that we believe are most attractive for hydropower investments,” said Jan Tošnar, founder and Managing Director of RENFIN. “We are excited that the next stage of our company’s growth in Italy comes from partnering with such a distinguished investment partner as LAM. Our shared vision and values with Lazard SPI Fund set the foundation for a fruitful collaboration.”
UK
RheEnergise to deploy first-of- a-kind long duration storage demonstrator scheme at Sibelco mining site RheEnergise, a UK company specializing in long-duration hydro-energy storage, is set to construct its first-of-a-kind demonstrator at Sibelco’s mining site in Cornwood, near Plymouth. Work onsite to build the demonstrator will start imminently with its commissioning to start in September. The project, supported by the UK Government’s Longer Duration Energy Storage (LODES) Demonstration Programme and Devon County Council, aims to utilize RheEnergise’s High-Density Hydro® (HD Hydro) system to support Sibelco’s mining operations during periods of high energy demand and aid in their decarbonization efforts. The HD Hydro demonstrator, with a peak power production of 500kW, will assist Sibelco in managing its energy needs sustainably while reducing carbon emissions. The Cornwood site produces kaolin, mainly for sanitary ware, ceramics, tiles and industrial applications. “Sibelco is looking at new ways to manage and secure its future energy needs and at the same time decarbonise its operations, and so we are excited about the potential contribution that RheEnergise’s hydro storage project can make to our operations,” said Ben Uphill, Director Operations at Sibelco. “We are keen to adopt green technologies as part of an overall effort to reduce our carbon footprint, so we are delighted to be working with the RheEnergise team on this world-first.” Stephen Crosher, Chief Executive of RheEnergise, added: “We are hugely appreciative of the support and assistance given to us by Sibelco, DESNZ and Devon County Council. Our scheme will help Sibelco’s energy security at Cornwood and show the long-term contribution it can make to the company’s Net Zero ambitions. “The demonstrator is a trailblazing project for the LDES sector and will place us in a strong
8 | June 2024 |
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position to build commercial-scale projects in this country and overseas. We have global interest in our technology, from as far as Australia and Chile. We would like to have our first 10MW grid-scale project in operation within 2 years.”
US
Duke Energy bolsters power grid with Bad Creek upgrades In a bid to meet the burgeoning electricity demands of the Carolinas, Duke Energy has completed a multiyear upgrade project at its Bad Creek facility in Salem, S.C. The enhancements, spanning across four units, have injected an additional 320MW of capacity into the company’s largest “battery.” The Bad Creek pumped storage facility plays
a pivotal role in Duke Energy’s operational strategy, particularly as the region witnesses a surge in solar energy adoption. By leveraging pumped storage technology, Duke Energy aims to bolster the reliability of its system amidst increasing demand.
With these upgrades, the station’s total capacity now stands at 1680MW, capable of powering over 1.3 million homes. “This investment in Bad Creek demonstrates our commitment to improving reliability across the Carolinas. Pumped storage technology gives us operational flexibility, allowing us to store energy and then deploy that energy when customer demand is highest,” said Preston Gillespie, executive vice president and chief generation officer and enterprise operational excellence. “Expanding our energy storage capabilities is just one of the many steps we are taking in the next phase of our energy transition.” The upgrade project, executed in phases, saw each new pump turbine unit receiving an additional 80MW of capacity. Unit 2 was completed in 2020, followed by unit 1 in 2021, unit 3 in 2023, and unit 4 in April. Looking ahead, Duke Energy is actively pursuing the extension of Bad Creek’s operating license, set to expire in 2027. Moreover, the company is exploring the possibility of constructing a second powerhouse at the facility, aimed at further augmenting system capacity and addressing evolving energy dynamics driven by solar growth and customer usage patterns. If pursued, the second powerhouse could be operational as early as 2034. “From population growth to the expansion of manufacturing and other major economic development wins, the Carolinas are booming,” said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy’s South Carolina president. “We must have a diverse energy mix to account for this growth on the coldest winter nights and the warmest summer days. We continue to look at solutions like expanding Bad Creek to make sure the power is there when customers need it, and it is as affordable as possible – providing certainty as they go about their daily lives.” The expansion of operations at Bad Creek is not only poised to fortify the region’s power
grid but also provides significant economic benefits of $7.3 billion to South Carolina, as the state benefits from construction and general infrastructure activity, by 2033.
Global Hydropower turbines market poised to reach $5.2 billion by 2033, report suggests A new report released by Allied Market Research projects that the hydropower turbines market, valued at $3.2 billion in 2023, is set to reach $5.2 billion by 2033, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.9% from 2024 to 2033. The report – Hydropower Turbines Market by Type (Reaction Turbine and Impulse Turbine) and Application (Power Generation, Power Storage, Marine, Aeronautics, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033 – suggests that the surge in global initiatives to develop sustainable energy solutions is a prime driver behind the anticipated growth of the hydropower turbines market. Factors fuelling this expansion include increased investments in renewable energy resources and the construction of smart cities worldwide. The transition towards sustainable energy underscores the significance of hydropower as a dependable and eco-friendly energy source. Despite these positive drivers, challenges such as high initial investment costs and regulatory hurdles associated with dam construction hinder market growth. However, opportunities lie in expanding hydropower capacity in developing regions.
India
Ocean Sun and NHPC join forces for solar project at hydro plant Ocean Sun and NHPC Limited have inked an agreement to collaborate on a 2MW floating solar demonstration project at one of NHPC’s existing hydropower reservoirs. A digital Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony was graced by distinguished attendees, including ambassadors from India and Norway, earlier this month. The agreement will see the firms leveraging Ocean Sun’s floating photovoltaic (FPV) technology alongside NHPC’s expertise in hydropower in a project at some point this year. In April, Ocean Sun confirmed it had successfully completed the construction of a 250kWp floating solar demonstrator for ACCIONA Energia in Spain. The project is located in the Sierra Brava
reservoir in the region of Zorita and will be part of ACCIONA Energia’s testbed for floating solar. At site, ACCIONA Energia will test the solution in a real environment and acquire the necessary knowledge in construction, operation and maintenance, and environmental monitoring to scale up to commercial application.
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