World news |
Monroe Drop project, in particular, exemplifies how innovative owners can operate a project that aligns with power, environmental, and community needs. Ames stated: “Not only does the project have minimal impact and utilize existing infrastructure, but it also is being used by Natel Energy as a full-scale test site to advance fish-safe turbine technology as part of their efforts to develop hydropower solutions that support efficient energy production and fish safety.”
Gia Schneider, co-founder and CEO of Natel
Energy, emphasized the importance of adhering to sustainability standards to combat global warming and maintain the health of rivers. Natel Energy pursued LIHI certification for the Monroe Drop Project to underscore the significance of meeting these standards while simultaneously supporting ecosystem function alongside energy production. “We are thrilled to celebrate Monroe as LIHI’s 200th certified project, and we encourage other project owners to work with LIHI to evaluate their assets’ ecological footprints so that as an industry we can deliver truly sustainable renewable energy,” Schneider commented.
US Rye Development hydro projects set to power data centers In what has been described as a first for the hydropower industry, Rye Development has developed an agreement with Iron Mountain that could see new hydropower added to existing dams being used to power data centers in the US. Unlike a typical power purchase agreement
(PPA) — where a buyer agrees to purchase energy from a single renewable energy project for a set period of time — Iron Mountain has agreed to purchase up to 150MW of power over the next 10 years from several of Rye Development’s low-impact hydroelectric projects in the PJM wholesale electricity market. Rye Development seeks to integrate power generation capabilities into existing dams that currently have no capacity to generate electricity. It currently has more than a dozen projects in the pipeline. The offtake agreement between the two companies significantly shortens the time required to execute a clean energy PPA while providing both the buyer and seller the certainty they need to meet their business and climate goals.
“Our agreement paves the way for a new era of clean energy production in the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Paul Jacob, CEO, Rye Development. “By unlocking the potential of numerous low impact hydro projects, we can work with Iron Mountain to meet their 100%, 24/7 renewable energy goals.” “As a data center operator, we are committed
to matching local electricity use with local carbon free power generation every hour, every day,” added Mark Kidd, Iron Mountain’s EVP &
8 | July 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
GlobalGeneral Manager, Data Centers & Asset Lifecycle Management. “In addition to buying power from existing clean energy projects, we’re committing to long-term power purchase agreements that result in the development of new carbon-free projects that can directly support our data centers there.”
Switzerland Wegaw secures grant from Innosuisse to develop advanced geospatial digital twin technology Climate-tech startup Wegaw has been awarded a CHF 1.4 million Swiss Accelerator Grant by Innosuisse to support its ambitious two-year project to develop sophisticated geospatial digital twin technology. Wegaw’s technology specializes in near real- time monitoring of snow, glaciers, and water resources. By utilizing this technology, Wegaw intends to provide unprecedented accuracy in forecasting future water and energy availability. This becomes increasingly crucial as global snow cover continues to decline, resulting in the loss of an entire month’s worth of snow at low and medium altitudes over a 50-year period. The decline in snow cover has significant implications for Switzerland’s energy generation and forecasting capabilities, particularly during uncertain periods such as the height of summer and mid-winter. To address this challenge, the Swiss government is collaborating with Wegaw, enabling energy companies and public agencies to enhance their energy shortage plans by leveraging improved water availability forecasts.
As part of the project, Wegaw will collaborate
with Hydrique and Mitta to develop a water and energy forecasting tool using geospatial technology. This partnership will leverage observation data from satellite and drone imagery, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations, in-situ measurements, and weather stations. By integrating these diverse data sources, a highly accurate digital twin of water, glacier, and snow resource datasets will be created, providing invaluable insights for the Swiss energy, water, and utility industries. This innovative climate change forecasting tool will help flag potential shortage scenarios and climate anomalies, enabling better preparation and response strategies. Wegaw’s ultimate goal is to build the most advanced snow, glacier, and water forecasting tool by partnering with Hydrique and Mitta. This tool will provide near real-time data to Swiss companies, utilities, and public agencies, enabling them to optimize energy generation, trading pricing strategies, and water demand management. The implementation and testing of the new geospatial digital twin technology will involve leading hydropower companies in Scandinavia and Canada. Wegaw plans to conduct several pilots over a 12-month period, improving
short-term forecasts for energy and water output optimization and long-term forecasts for financial risk reduction and trading value maximization. The objective is to enhance the resilience of hydropower and water management organizations by equipping them with accurate forecasting capabilities. Wegaw anticipates releasing further announcements and project updates in the future. Those interested in getting involved or learning more about the project can contact the Wegaw team directly through their website at
wegaw.com/contact-us.
Australia
Local businesses win key Pioneer- Burdekin contracts in Queensland Queensland’s Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro energy storage project is gaining momentum as local businesses secure key contracts. The Minister for Energy, Renewables, and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, announced that Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling, a local family business from the Mackay region, has been awarded the first geotechnical drilling contract for the project. Additionally, Water2Wire, a Queensland-based joint venture with a strong presence in Mackay, has won the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract. The Pioneer-Burdekin project aims to become
the largest pumped hydro scheme in the world, delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power supply and storage to Queenslanders. It is part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, which is expected to generate over 3,000 jobs during the construction phase, contributing to the broader $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling’s successful tender for the geotechnical shallow drilling program is a crucial milestone for the project. The data collected from this six-month program will inform the project’s design, playing a fundamental role in the development of this nation-building initiative. The project will not only create employment opportunities but also provide a significant boost to the local economy. Water2Wire’s expertise and experience in delivering pumped hydro projects – like Borumba and Kidston – make them a valuable partner for the Pioneer-Burdekin project, Kieran Cusack, CEO, Queensland Hydro said. The joint venture consists of three companies with considerable experience – GHD, Mott MacDonald, and Stantec. Minister Mick de Brenni emphasized the significance of the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project as the cornerstone of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan: “The project is poised to offer hundreds of supply chain opportunities, and with application of the Palaszczuk Governments’ signature Buy Queensland Procurement Policy, local businesses like Twin Hills and Water2Wire will be the preferred project partners.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
