| Central and South America


energy reliability and production. Developed by Noria Energy, it comprises a 1.5MW solar power system floating on the reservoir and was a pilot project for independent power producer URRÁ. The Aquasol pilot installation is situated at the 340MW Urrá hydropower plant in the Sinú River basin in Córdoba. Comprising over 2800 solar modules, it is anticipated to generate nearly 2400MWh of power in its first year, equivalent to the energy required to operate the dam. Additionally, Aquasol is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 1540 tons annually and generate over US$1.2 million in additional electric power revenue over a span of 20 years. “URRÁ seeks to incorporate innovation and sustainable development in all its operations. We are very proud that Aquasol is the largest floating photovoltaic plant built at a reservoir of a hydroelectric power plant in South America to date,” said Rafael Amaya del Vecchio, president of URRÁ. Noria Energy plans to leverage the data collected


from the Aquasol pilot project to compare its production and efficiency against a ground-mounted solar system installed on the shore. Furthermore, the insights gained will assist in designing and modelling larger-scale floating solar and hydroelectric systems to maximize their generation potential, both in Colombia and globally.


Above average According to the IHA, higher than average rainfall


levels in Chile and Colombia during 2022 boosted hydropower output compared to previous years. In Chile specifically, the year-on-year increase for August 2022 was 87%. The country is reported to be ramping up investment in renewable technologies which was reflected in it its rank as the tenth highest country in 2022 for adding 477MW of hydropower capacity, mainly due to the commissioning of the Las Lajas and the Alfalfal II power plants, both by the same developer, Alto Maipo. While the Ocean Renewable Power Company is also installing the country’s first commercial river hydrokinetic system in the municipality of Chile Chico. The electricity delivered from this will displace diesel fuel in the market.


More favourable rainfall also meant that in 2002


water was spilled from five dams on the Rio Grande River basin in Brazil, which had not happened since March 2011. In December 2022, the level of water in the reservoirs of the country’s southeast/centre-west hydroelectric system was at about 50% of capacity, double what it was a year ago. In 2021 Brazil faced its worst drought in 91 years. Uruguay is currently in the grips of its worst drought


for more than 70 years. On 20 June 2023, it was reported that President Luis Lacalle Pou had declared a state of emergency in the capital Montevideo due to water shortages as the Canelon Grande reservoir was experiencing historically low levels. Then on 15 July more than half of the capital’s three and a half million people were reported to be without water fit for drinking due to the shortages. Critics argue that they had warned about such a dire situation years ago due to a lack of investment into reservoirs and the fact that only one facility supplies the area surrounding the capital city.


In July, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced it had approved a credit of up to US$800 million to help modernise the 1890MW Salto Grande Binational Hydroelectric Complex in Argentina and Uruguay. The financing will play a vital role in ensuring the reliability and availability of the scheme, as well as extending its operational lifespan while enhancing environmental and social sustainability. Expected to benefit over 17 million users of the interconnected electricity systems in Argentina and Uruguay, Salto Grande was the first binational project in the region and has been a catalyst for electrical system integration in the Southern Cone and has paved the way for future collaborations between Argentina and Uruguay.


Earlier in the year AFRY, in consortium with Latinoconsult, announced it had won the contract to plan and supervise the rehabilitation and modernisation of the 200MW Acaray hydropower plant in Paraguay which was commissioned in 1969. The first phase of the project will last approximately 20 months, during which AFRY will review previous studies and design technical solutions that will be


Planning for projects


Earlier this year, Intermap Technologies, a provider of 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, secured a contract to to support EDF Hydro’s hydropower projects in South America. The contract entails providing high-resolution NEXTMap®


digital


terrain models (DTMs), an advanced geospatial solution that will aid in hydro power feasibility studies, project modeling, and preliminary engineering across various potential sites in the region. With over 70 years of experience in hydropower design,


development, and operation, EDF is a well-established player in the industry. Intermap’s NEXTMap DTMs will empower EDF with the necessary tools to analyze multiple remote hydro power project locations effectively, it said in a statement. The company’s expertise in elevation data collection and processing ensures precise and consistent results, even in challenging areas with mountainous forest terrain. Mapping rugged terrain with thick canopies and steep slopes


has always been a formidable task. However, Intermap’s unique and patented AI/ML-driven technology provides a solution. By effectively mapping the ground beneath the forest canopy, the accuracy and efficiency of preliminary studies and project planning will significantly improve. “Intermap’s NEXTMap DTM data provides unique value to EDF’s


hydro power development efforts, enabling the characterization of terrain for early development stages,” said Yann Marcilloux, EDF Project Leader. “Hydro power has been a reliable source of clean energy for over a century and its potential for growth is immense,” added Patrick A. Blott, Intermap Chairman and CEO. “We are proud to enable and support development of hydro power in South America to harness its benefits and create a cleaner and more prosperous future. We are pleased to support EDF with its project development and look forward to future opportunities with EDF and other clean energy companies around the world.”


www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2023 | 13


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