Small hydro |
Small hydro: powering local energy solutions
Small hydropower projects are making waves across the globe, offering innovative and sustainable energy solutions for local communities, agriculture, and industries. From Norway to Papua New Guinea, these projects demonstrate the power and potential of small-scale hydro in driving the renewable energy revolution
WHILE LARGE-SCALE HYDROPOWER projects often dominate the headlines, small hydro developments are quietly transforming local energy landscapes around the world. In Norway, the Flateland hydropower plant is a prime example of how small-scale projects can meet renewable energy goals ahead of schedule. Across the Atlantic, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in the US has integrated in-conduit hydropower into its agricultural operations, proving that clean energy can thrive even in desert environments. Meanwhile, projects in Papua New Guinea and South Africa are harnessing the power of rivers to fuel local development and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. These diverse initiatives highlight the growing importance of small hydro in the global push toward a sustainable energy future.
Transforming the energy landscape in
Below: SMEC is to study the feasibility of Kuat I hydropower project in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea SMEC has secured the contract to conduct the feasibility study for the Kuat I Hydropower Project, a development that holds the potential to transform the energy landscape in Morobe Province. This project, once operational, is expected to generate approximately 15MW of power and produce around 100GWh of clean, renewable energy annually, providing a reliable power source for the region’s burgeoning industrial and mining sectors. Finschhafen district, where the project is located, is one of the most hydropower-rich regions in Papua New Guinea. Since 2020, SMEC has been engaged by the Finschhafen District Development Authority (FDDA) to assess the hydropower potential of the district’s rivers. During the prefeasibility study in 2023, SMEC identified four potential hydro projects within the Kuat River basin. Of these, the Kuat I project was ranked as the most financially viable and accessible, leading to its selection for a feasibility study. The Kuat I Hydropower Project is poised to play a
critical role in the PNG government’s strategy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. By developing renewable energy sources like hydropower, the government aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. The power generated by the project will be integrated into the Ramu Distribution System through a new transmission route connecting the project site to Lae, the nearest city, further supporting regional development. SMEC’s scope of work includes feasibility-
level design and site investigations, which will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of experts..
16 | October 2024 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com Tilak Bhattarai, Regional Lead – Pacific, Dams &
Hydropower, commented: “The Kuat I project win highlights our capabilities in design and our ongoing support for renewable energy initiatives in Papua New Guinea. SMEC is currently involved in various stages of project development, including pre-feasibility, feasibility, ESIA and tender designs, for a range of clients across the region.”
South Africa’s renewable future In the heart of South Africa, along the winding Ash
River, a groundbreaking renewable energy project is taking shape. Serengeti Energy’s Boston Hydro project, a 5MW run-of-river hydropower plant, is making significant strides towards its goal of achieving commercial operation by the third quarter of 2025. The Boston Hydro project is not just another energy
initiative; it’s the largest of six hydropower plants strategically positioned along the Ash River, which forms an integral part of the water transfer scheme between Lesotho and Gauteng. As construction reaches the halfway mark, the project is on track to become Serengeti Energy’s fourth successful hydropower plant in South Africa. With an expected annual output of 30GWh, the
Boston Hydro project promises to make a substantial contribution to South Africa’s power grid. Construction began in late October 2023, and since then, progress has been steady and impressive. The project team is currently focused on a critical phase: preparing for the water outage of the Lesotho Highland Water Project (LHWP). This planned outage, scheduled from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, presents a rare and valuable opportunity for the construction team to safely carry out essential in-river works. During this six-month window, the team will undertake one of the most challenging aspects of the construction: building the diversion weir. This structure, consisting of a mass concrete spillway and earth embankment, is crucial to the plant’s operation. To ensure completion within the tight timeframe of the LHWP outage, the team has employed innovative construction methodologies. One such innovation is the use of precast elements, which not only enhances the rate of construction but also significantly improves safety for the construction team. Parallel to the in-river works, significant progress is being made on the powerhouse. This phase of the project presents its own set of challenges, requiring deep excavations into hard rock and the installation of over 150 tons of hydroelectrical equipment. The
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
