| World news Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro update Lower Churchill project costs
The total forecasted project cost for the Lower Churchill Project is set to increase from C$13.11 billion to C$13.37 billion, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro has confirmed, stating that it will not need any equity from the province and will cover the increase through internal funding sources. The company has also shared an update on the development of software required to complete the Labrador Island Link (LIL) portion of the project. Hydro has been transferring power over LIL as conditions allow,
and reached a peak transfer of 421MW. To date, LIL transmission assets has delivered approximately 340GWh of Muskrat Falls power to homes and businesses in Newfoundland that would otherwise have been served by the Holyrood Thermal Generating Station. The company said it continues to work with GE to advance the software required to appropriately operate the Labrador-Island Link at varying levels. The latest version of the full function bipole software was tested at the offsite facility in Stafford recently, and passed factory acceptance testing (FAT). That latest version of software has now been loaded onto the system for the next
testing phase. Additional tests are planned over the next couple of months, including testing at 475MW, which if successful will allow Hydro to operate the LIL between 450 and 675MW. If LIL performs well as this level, Hydro will test functionality at 700MW. This test will require colder weather and higher system demand and is expected to take place in the fall.
Facilities capital cost (the cost of construction) remains the same as the September 2020 update at C$10.18 billion, with no impact on the forecasted cost as a result of the recent decision of the Astaldi Arbitration Tribunal. In response to the current LIL timeline, carrying costs have
increased by CAD $256 million, which resulted in the forecasted total project cost increase. The Lower Churchill Project is a set of hydroelectric generation and transmission projects that includes the Muskrat Falls Generating Station on the Churchill River in Labrador (completed in late 2021), the Labrador Transmission Assets, the Labrador– Island Link that connects to the island of Newfoundland, and the Maritime Link that connects to Nova Scotia.
Norway
Statkraft planning major capacity increase at Mauranger II, Norway
Statkraft has sent a license application to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) which could see capacity than triple from 250MW to 880MW at the Mauranger II power plant. If it gets the green light, the modernization will make the Mauranger II power plant Norway’s fifth largest in terms of capacity. The project would provide 70-80 GWh of new clean energy into the power system, which corresponds to the electricity consumption of 5,000 households. It is 40 years since Statkraft last submitted a license application for such a large hydropower project. “We expect that in the future, there will be an increased need for more flexibility and capacity. We can contribute to this by upgrading our hydropower plants,” commented Statkraft’s CEO Christian Rynning- Tønnesen. “The increased need for power and a recently adapted hydropower taxation mean that it is now possible to implement large projects. The need for more flexible power production can lead to a renaissance for existing Norwegian hydropower plants.” The modernization of the Mauranger power
plant would contribute with significantly more capacity into Western Norway’s power system. The project would also support Norway’s offshore wind plans and new industrial development. The modernization represents a substantial investment into mainland Norway. It will take about three years before detailed planning
can begin, said Statkraft, with construction likely to start in 2026.
Statkraft said it is continuously assessing the need for rehabilitation and the possibility of upgrading or expanding and re-designing it’s hydropower plants and is in the process of reviewing the entire hydropower portfolio to evaluate profitable projects. Statkraft has invested more than NOK 20 billion in Norwegian hydropower since 2005 and has so far in 2022 opened two hydropower plants, Storlia and Vesle Kjela power plants in Eidfjord municipality and Vinje municipality, respectively.
Australia
NSW govt scraps plans for Mole River Dam Proposals to build a new dam on the Mole River near Tenterfield in New South Wales, Australia, have been scrapped, Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson has confirmed in a statement. The news was released as part of the second-draft of the Regional Water Strategy for the Border Rivers, which has been prepared following extensive consultation and feedback from the community. “After engaging with residents, businesses,
stakeholder groups, Aboriginal communities and councils, we have landed on actions that will ensure a secure water future for the community and the environment,” Anderson said. “We have listened to community feedback, undertaken rigorous investigations and cost benefit analysis and determined that the Mole River Dam will not proceed.”
Instead, the strategy looks at options like
bores to access groundwater sources in the region, or converting general security licenses to high security licenses to give farmers greater certainty. It also looks at modernising water supply systems in towns to make the more water efficient.
UK
New micro hydropower installation set for STEM education role An historic tide mill in Suffolk, England, is to install a micro hydropower system in a bid to educate and provide activities around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) themes for the many students who visit. The micro-generator to be installed at
Woodbridge Tide Mill will take its energy from the Crown Wheel Lay Shaft in the Mill. It will be coupled to outputs such as phone chargers, a light bulb and a voltmeter so visitors can see the electricity generated. Key Stage 1,2, and 3 students – who range in age from 5 to 14 – will have accompanying materials to explain the process, the importance of sustainable energy sources and there will be hands-on activities such as simple circuit building.
Tide Mill Education Lead: Heather Sheehan commented: “It is paramount that educators begin to teach children the importance of renewable energy sources and sustainability and these sessions will support teachers to do just that.’ “The Trustees of Woodbridge Tide Mill have
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