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of Queensland’s publicly-owned energy storage fleet and maintaining it will be critical to achieving our renewable energy target,” said Minister Mick de Brenni. “That’s why we’ll continue to invest in Wivenhoe and progress plans for pumped hydro at Borumba Dam, with the Budget providing $22 million for detailed design and cost analysis of that project.” CleanCo CEO Dr Maia Schweizer said since taking ownership in 2019, CleanCo has run Wivenhoe more often as part of its portfolio of low-emissions assets. “We must maintain our generating assets in line with this change in operations to ensure we can continue to meet our mandate to provide reliable, affordable energy for our customers and the Queensland community,” Dr Schweizer said.
Back in May 2021, the Callide C Power Station went offline, which resulted in Wivenhoe ramping up to the point it was generating 530MW over a four-hour period, helping to meet demand and stabilise the network. “The recent incident at Callide Power Station highlighted the important role fast ramping and flexible generation assets like Wivenhoe Power Station play in supplying energy reliably for Queensland,” said Dr Schweizer.
Scotland Virgin Money supports Scottish hydro acquisitions Virgin Money has approved an £8 million long-term loan to support Scottish Hydro Investment Limited (SHIL) in acquiring two operational hydro schemes from Guinness Asset Management. The loan will be used towards the acquisition, and upgrade, of the Glen Buck and Munergie hydro schemes, located in the Scottish Highlands. Totalling 3MW and utilising storage capacity, it is anticipated the schemes will produce over 10GWh of electricity per annum, following a period of upgrade works. The deal is co-sponsored by existing bank client CRF Hydro Power Limited and corporate group Turner & Co (Glasgow) Ltd who, together, through the newly formed joint venture Foster Turner Hydro Limited, a company established to invest in low carbon renewable energy projects, are providing an undisclosed level of equity. Virgin Money said securing these new schemes through SHIL demonstrates the firm’s commitment to energy efficiency. The deal also further develops Virgin Money’s existing portfolio of sustainable lending and represents another step in its pledge to halve the carbon impact of its loan book by 2030. “While sometimes overlooked, medium- scale hydro schemes have an important role to play in supporting the energy transition,
6 | August 2021 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
particularly those capable of delivering power at times of peak demand, as is the case here,” commented Keith Wilson, Head of Renewable Energy at Virgin Money. “Our track record of supporting the hydro sector is already second to none and we are pleased to have concluded another two high performing schemes.” Virgin Money has previously supported CRF Hydropower Limited. This involved a multi-million-pound package which assisted the growth of its hydro portfolio across Scotland. Today CRF Hydropower Limited owns and operates 11 hydro schemes which have a combined capacity in excess of 7.7MW. Together with Turner & Co (Glasgow) Ltd, it already jointly owns one additional hydro scheme, which is currently under construction. This new deal will be both their second and third joint ventures together, further supporting each company’s drive for carbon reduction.
US
LineVision’s V3 system installed in California
LineVision has announced that its LiDAR- powered V3 monitoring system will be installed across power lines in the greater Sacramento region for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), with the pilot project focusing primarily on power lines originating from the Upper American River Project hydropower stations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe. The pilot project will monitor transmission assets to identify if additional capacity is available during certain times of the year and will allow SMUD to proactively alleviate renewable energy bottle necks on the system. “Record-setting demand for energy and changing system dynamics are tasking utilities with the challenge of how to best maintain system reliability while simultaneously transitioning how we deliver power,” said Jonathan Marmillo, Vice President of Product and co-founder of LineVision. “SMUD is at the forefront of innovative thinking on how to solve these issues and we are delighted to work with its team on this important initiative.” “This has the potential to help unlock additional capacity on SMUD’s existing transmission lines, allowing more renewable generation assets to be added to the grid,” said Frankie McDermott, SMUD’s Chief Operating Officer. “We need innovative solutions to help us reach our zero carbon goals and we’re excited to see if this technology can help us get there.” LineVision’s sensors collect real-time data on critical parameters of overhead power lines including line temperature, sag, horizontal motion, and anomalous motion. The data is collected utilizing a LiDAR sensor
system which allows installation without having to de-energize a transmission line or use live-line working techniques. According to several studies, congestion on power lines contributes to $8 billion in losses annually across the nation’s electric grid. Dynamic Line Ratings enabled by LineVision can help unlock additional capacity on SMUD’s transmission lines allowing more renewable energy sources to be added to the grid, helping the utility meet its goal of providing 100% carbon-free electricity to its customers by 2030.
US
New system produces energy from municipal water pipeline in Washington, US InPipe Energy and Skagit Public Utility District have completed the East Division Street Energy Recovery Project at Skagit PUD’s East Division Street booster pump station in Mount Vernon – making the PUD one of the first water agencies to install a new technology that converts excess water pressure into electricity, reducing operational costs and helping to combat climate change. Skagit PUD’s installation utilizes the In-
PRV from InPipe Energy, a new smart water and micro-hydro system that generates electricity by harvesting excess pressure from municipal water pipelines. By recovering the energy embedded in excess water pressure and converting it into electricity, the system will generate up to 94,000 kilowatt- hours (kWh) or more of electricity per year while providing pressure management that helps save water and extend the life of the pipeline. The electricity produced will be used to offset the use of grid power at the pump station, saving Skagit PUD money and replacing the equivalent of 3.5 million pounds of fossil-fuel-based carbon emissions annually.
“Converting excess water pressure into clean, renewable energy is a win for the environment and our ratepayers,“ said George Sidhu, Skagit PUD General Manager. “Environmental stewardship is one of Skagit PUD’s core values; and in our actions, we want to preserve our region’s natural resources. As a public utility, we’re always looking to innovate and create greater efficiencies in the operation of our water system, and the East Division Street micro- hydro project checks all the boxes.” “The world’s water infrastructure is energy and carbon intensive,” explained Gregg Semler, president and CEO of InPipe Energy. “We see a large, global opportunity for water agencies to meet their mission while also battling the impact of climate change. The sustainability of our nation’s water systems is paramount, yet water agencies are being constantly challenged with rising energy costs and aging infrastructure. By providing
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