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vehicle charging infrastructure LAD OPP across Northern Norway. The loan will co-finance a NOK 294 million investment programme of Helgeland Kraft, who’s core businesses are the production of hydropower, distribution, and electricity sales. The Grytåga hydropower plant upgrade will
increase installed capacity from 48MW to 62 MW and turbine capacity from 30m3 m3
/sec to 40 /sec. This increase will shorten production
time from 5000 to 3900 hours with a maintained annual output of 250GWh. The upgrade will boost the peak period production, supporting the balance of fluctuating wind power output. The LAD OPP charging station rollout
involves 116 points across Northern Norway, with 40 already in place. The expansion aligns with Norway’s national strategy to increase charging infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage EV adoption. Convenient charging access is essential for a low-emission society by 2050.
The Philippines DBP approves funds for hydroelectric plant in Leyte The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has extended a credit assistance amounting to P441 million for the development of the 2MW Bao River hydroelectric plant in Kananga, Ormoc City, Leyte. DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O. de Jesus revealed that the credit assistance was granted to Leyte V Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO V) under the bank’s Financing Utilities for Sustainable Energy Development (FUSED) program. This move is part of DBP’s ongoing support for the national government’s target of increasing the share of renewable energy (RE) in the country’s power generation mix to 35% by 2030. “DBP is one with the national government in fortifying its efforts to secure a sustainable energy future for the country,” de Jesus stated. “ This partnership with LEYECO V is a clear manifestation of our commitment to support the development of a vibrant and resilient renewable energy sector in the Philippines” Highlighting the potential power shortage
in Leyte and Samar by 2027, de Jesus emphasized the necessity of new power generation plants. Without them, the provinces may experience a deficit of up to 115MW. To address the rising electricity demand in the area and boost power supply in the northwestern part of Leyte, which comprises 11 municipalities and one city with a population of over 650,000, the development of the Bao River plant is crucial.
“With this existing partnership and future partnerships ahead, we hope that together, DBP and LEYECO V can continue to be instruments of change that will help build a more just and sustainable future for all,” de Jesus added. DBP’s Senior Vice President and Officer-in- Charge of the Development and Resiliency
Sector, Carolyn I. Olfindo, revealed that the bank has already approved nearly P77 billion in loans under the FUSED Program. Out of the total loan portfolio, approximately 30%, or 27 accounts, are dedicated to new renewable energy projects. This demonstrates DBP’s shift in policy towards sustainable and greener power sources. “DBP is eager to work with more electric cooperatives, private corporations, and local government units in bankrolling sustainable and environmentally-sound projects that would address power system supply constraints,” Olfindo expressed.
US
Underground infrastructure engineering completed for US’ first full-scale wave energy test facility
Jacobs has successfully completed the underground infrastructure engineering for the PacWave South commercial-scale ocean wave energy testing facility – set to become the first pre-permitted, full-scale test facility for wave energy devices in the US. Jacobs delivered the engineering services for the HDD Company, the design-build contractor for the project, which is being developed by Oregon State University (OSU). The PacWave South facility will provide an
ideal testing ground for up to 20 wave energy converters (WECs) of various designs, enabling real-world evaluation in open-sea conditions situated seven miles off the Oregon coast. The project encompasses the installation of four offshore steel conduits, reaching depths of up to 120ft below the seafloor and extending a mile offshore. These conduits will be connected to a bundle of five onshore high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conduits. The entire infrastructure was installed using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) methods, ensuring minimal disturbance to sensitive wetlands and beach areas. Ultimately, the conduits will link to PacWave’s Utility Connection and Monitoring Facility, facilitating the conversion of offshore ocean waves into onshore renewable electricity. “The engineering for this project was complex, requiring our team to overcome coastal geology challenges, working in the near-shore environment around sensitive coastal wetlands, and meeting a tight schedule to obtain regulatory approval,” stated Koti Vadlamudi, Jacobs People & Places Solutions Senior Vice President for Global Business Units. “This work reaffirms our commitment to working with organizations that push the boundaries of what’s possible to address climate change and build resilient energy transition solutions in our communities.”
Dan Hellin, Deputy Director of PacWave,
lauded the innovative solutions provided by the Jacobs team throughout the design and construction phases. Their collaboration resulted in methods for concealing the large
concrete vault built at the state park, which acts as a critical hub for splicing and transitioning energy from offshore to onshore conduits. By disguising the vault as a reconstructed parking lot, beachgoers will not experience any disruptions caused by the added wave energy testing infrastructure. The PacWave South project received national
recognition for its excellence in engineering. It was honored with a prestigious National Recognition Award in the 2022 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) competition, hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).
US Natel Energy’s Monroe Drop hydropower project becomes 200th project certified by LIHI The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has granted its 200th Low Impact certificate in the US to Natel Energy’s Monroe Drop hydropower project in Oregon. Situated on an irrigation canal in Oregon’s Deschutes River Basin, the Monroe Drop project operates passively during the irrigation season, running solely on canal flow and without storage, thereby posing minimal ecological impact.
For nearly 25 years, LIHI has been the sole national independent program responsible for evaluating and certifying hydropower projects based on their environmental, recreational, and cultural impacts. The institute was established in 1999 during the early stages of electricity market deregulation, when the demand for “green power” began to surge. While the definitions of “green” or “renewable” energy varied, it was generally acknowledged that consumers sought power sources with minimal adverse effects. Despite hydropower’s utilization of a renewable resource - water - concerns persisted regarding its impact on aquatic ecosystems. In response, LIHI emerged from a collaborative effort among conservation, marketing, and green power organizations to create a voluntary standard that would recognize and provide economic incentives to hydropower owners who operated their facilities in accordance with established environmental criteria. After 23 years since issuing its first Low Impact certification, the Monroe Drop hydropower project becomes the 200th LIHI Certified® project. Situated on an irrigation canal in Oregon’s Deschutes River Basin, the Monroe Drop project operates passively during the irrigation season, running solely on canal flow and without storage, thereby posing minimal ecological impact. Shannon Ames, Executive Director of LIHI, highlighted the institute’s distinctive criteria that can be applied to a wide range of hydropower projects. Each certified project demonstrates location-specific strategies to prioritize environmental considerations. The
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