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million, in line with earlier transactions. The FEN portfolio includes 14 hydropower plants and one power offtake agreement with a total annual production of 254GWh. The transaction also gives Cloudberry an


indirect 45% stake in Norhard Equipment AS, a construction company that specializes in hard rock drilling for small-scale hydro projects. FVK and FEN will be managed as a single operational unit. Combined, the portfolio will represent approximately 500GWh of producing and under-construction hydropower assets. Cloudberry’s proportionate share of hydro production will rise from around 200GWh to 300GWh. Most of the assets are located in southern Norway, which benefits from favourable power pricing. The combined portfolio includes a development backlog of approximately 300GWh, covering new and existing Cloudberry projects. FVK will be operated by a six-person team with expertise in small-scale hydro. According to Cloudberry, the new platform will have its own financing structure targeting a 50/50 loan-to-value ratio. Along with expected Cloudberry funding of €5–8 million, the financing will cover remaining capital expenditures for projects under construction. “This transaction expands our portfolio,


strengthens our development capabilities, and reinforces Cloudberry’s position as a leading Nordic renewable energy platform,” said Anders Lenborg, CEO of Cloudberry. “We are proud to lead this strategic hydro initiative.” The company expects the combined platform


to provide stable long-term cash flows, with the average asset life exceeding 50 years.


Canada Hydro-Québec begins


preliminary field studies for future hydroelectric project on Gull Island Hydro-Québec has begun geotechnical and environmental field studies on Gull Island in Labrador. The work marks the first step toward a potential new hydroelectric generating station in the region. The studies will provide data needed to


plan construction and are required to finalise an agreement between Hydro-Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (NL Hydro). In December 2024, the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to the Churchill Falls contract. Discussions are ongoing to reach a final agreement. “This is an important step on a long path


toward developing this major renewable energy resource. Seeing the first workers in the field gives further impetus to the project,” said Claudine Bouchard, President and CEO of Hydro-Québec. “It’s a clear affirmation of our commitment to carrying out this historic project, signing a final agreement with our partner NL Hydro, and working with Indigenous and local businesses in Labrador.”


Field activities include collecting 6 | August 2025 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


environmental data, conducting surveys, and installing construction trailers. The MOU signed with the Innu Nation of Labrador also reflects Hydro-Québec’s stated commitment to Indigenous engagement. Discussions with Innu communities in Québec are ongoing.


Local and Indigenous companies are


involved in the fieldwork. Stassinu Stantec Limited Partnership, a majority Innu-owned company based in Natuashish, will conduct geotechnical studies. Environmental studies will be led by WSP–Newfoundland and Labrador, which operates in Labrador and St. John’s. Air Borealis, a partnership between the Innu and Inuit of Labrador and PAL Airlines, will handle employee air travel. Both Stassinu Stantec and WSP– Newfoundland and Labrador will use local subcontractors and hire workers from Labrador. Hydro-Québec, through its subsidiary


Société d’Énergie de la Baie James (SEBJ), has committed $10 to $15 million for the studies.


Tajikistan Global Gateway initiative backs Sebzor hydropower plant As part of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, the Sebzor hydropower plant has been inaugurated in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). The facility is expected to provide reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity to more than 430,000 people in rural areas of Tajikistan and northern Afghanistan. The project aims to reduce electricity


interruptions caused by natural disasters, support local employment, and generate income for surrounding communities. The inauguration ceremony was led by the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and attended by international development partners. European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said: “The Sebzor hydropower plant, in line with the EU’s Global Gateway investment strategy, is a great illustration of how a sustainable infrastructure project transforms a whole region. It strengthens energy security, unlocks opportunities for local communities and businesses, promotes economic growth, and protects people’s health and the environment. I was privileged to visit Tajikistan this year and could see the potential for our deeper partnership, bringing added value, win-win solutions and building stronger connections between both regions.” Located at an altitude of over 2,500m in


Roshtqala District, the Sebzor hydropower plant is a run-of-river facility with an installed capacity of 11MW. It can produce over 76 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually and is expected to prevent more than 45,000 metric tons of CO2


emissions per year. The


plant is grid-synchronized to improve electricity reliability in the region and support power exports to northern Afghanistan.


The Sebzor project is part of the EU’s Team


Europe Initiative on Water, Energy and Climate Change. Tajikistan, while rich in water resources, faces challenges in managing them amid growing climate-related risks. The project aligns with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and is the first in the world to be certified under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. Sebzor was jointly financed under the Team


Europe approach by the German government and the European Union through the KfW Development Bank. It was implemented by Pamir Energy..


UK


RheEnergise awarded £2.15 million grant from European Innovation Council UK-based energy storage company RheEnergise has been awarded a £2.15 million (€2.5 million) grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator to support research and development of its long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology. RheEnergise is the only LDES company to


receive EIC funding in this round and one of only three UK companies to secure a grant. The other two UK recipients are working in advanced computing and health. In total, 40 companies from across Europe received funding, with a combined total of nearly €230 million. The selected companies operate in sectors including health, space, IT, and energy. The announcement comes as RheEnergise begins an investor roadshow in Canada, where most of its engineering team is based. Stephen Crosher, Chief Executive of RheEnergise, said: “The receipt of the EIC Accelerator grant is hugely welcome, as the EIC acknowledges the quality of our R&D to date, and the commercial prospects for our LDES technology to deployed. With the start of pumping of our High-Density Fluid soon to commence at our demonstrator energy storage plant on the outskirts of Plymouth, and the encouraging global interest that is being shown in our LDES technology, we are in a strong position to be one of the UK’s leading green energy unicorns.” The company’s demonstrator plant, located in Cornwood near Plymouth, has received additional support from the UK Department of Energy Security & Net Zero. RheEnergise also has agreements to deploy its technology in the UK, South America, Australia, and mainland Europe..


Taiwan Ardentec partners with Delta Energy to expand green energy strategy through small hydropower Ardentec, a semiconductor testing company, has signed an eight-year agreement with Delta Energy to purchase electricity generated from small hydropower. The deal is expected


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