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project, including environmental and social outcomes. This has resulted in Coire Glas becoming the first pumped storage hydropower project in the world to be Gold certified under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. “Although an investable policy mechanism is still needed for the project to progress to FID, Coire Glas can play a crucial role in meeting UK and Scottish Net Zero targets. This award demonstrates that vital energy infrastructure can be developed with sustainability at its core and is testament to the shared diligence and dedication of our team and contractors in doing the right thing by people and the planet in every stage of the project’s design.” The 9.5MW Mai Beni project in eastern Nepal,
operated by Urja Developers and Samling Power Company, achieved Gold certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard in 2024. The project has delivered infrastructure upgrades, strengthened emergency preparedness, created jobs, and minimised biodiversity impacts in a sensitive river basin. Eddie Rich said: “Mai Beni shows how small hydropower projects can make a big difference when there is a long-term commitment to responsible development. By having environmental and social expertise on the ground and working closely with local communities, Urja Developers and Samling Power have shown how you can develop projects that deliver real benefits for communities and ecosystems. I congratulate all involved on this highly deserved achievement.”
Australia
Paradise Dam declared coordinated project Queensland’s Coordinator-General has declared the Paradise Dam restoration a coordinated project, a step the state government says will streamline approvals and consultation for the development. The project aims to secure long-term water supply for the Bundaberg region and support agricultural and economic growth. Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the government was committed to delivering water security and jobs in regional Queensland. “The Crisafulli Government is continuing to mop up Labor’s monumental mess on Paradise Dam, which has faced major cost blow outs due to project mismanagement,” Bleijie said. “We are delivering on our election commitment to restore Paradise Dam which will support jobs and safeguard Bundaberg’s $2 billion agricultural industry. “By restoring Paradise Dam we’re not just building infrastructure – we’re building job creating economic growth for generations to come.
“With early works already underway and now with the coordinated project declaration, the LNP have done more in 10 months to fix
Tajikistan
Rogun Dam nears new milestone The Rogun Dam in Tajikistan, under construction by Webuild, will soon reach an elevation of 1110m above sea level, a milestone that will allow the reservoir level to rise further and increase electricity output. Once completed, Rogun will be the tallest dam in the world at 335m. President Emomalī Rahmon visited the site with Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda, ministers, government officials and representatives of OJSC Rogun HPP, the state company overseeing the project. The government has presented the project as essential to addressing power shortages, which affect about 70% of the population during winter months. When finished, the hydroelectric plant will have an installed capacity of 3600MW, which is comparable to three nuclear reactors. It is expected to supply electricity to around 10 million people, doubling Tajikistan’s power generation capacity.
Construction advanced by 100m over the past year, with about 13 million cubic metres of embankment material placed in the dam structure. Of this, 3.5 million cubic metres were loam used for the dam’s impermeable core. More than 180,000m of foundation and
6 | October 2025 |
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Paradise Dam, than Labor did in a decade. “The declaration by the Coordinator-General
will streamline the project, enabling Sunwater to progress critical works faster. It will ensure the community and stakeholders have an opportunity to participate in public notification processes and have their say.” Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy said the project would provide certainty for growers and businesses. “The Crisafulli Government’s commitment to rebuilding Paradise Dam will ensure communities, growers and industries have the reliable water supply they need to grow Queensland’s economy,” Leahy said. “We are building the long-term infrastructure that gives rural and regional communities the confidence to grow.” Member for Callide Bryson Head said
water security was a priority for the region: “Water security is a priority for Callide and this declaration delivers on the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to fix Labor’s failures.” Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan said his office would continue working with Sunwater to progress the project. “The decision by Sunwater to partner with the
OCG to streamline delivery of the new Paradise Dam Project, and their broader infrastructure pipeline, is a great outcome,” Coggan said. “OCG is working closely with the proponent, communities of North Burnett and Bundaberg councils and stakeholders to facilitate projects and foster strong partnerships between government agencies, stakeholders, and the community through the approvals process.”
abutment injections have also been completed to consolidate the structure and strengthen tunnels. The Rogun site faces harsh environmental conditions, including extreme winter cold and summer storms. Webuild, which has built more than 300 dams and hydroelectric projects worldwide, is also completing other large- scale hydropower works, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, scheduled to be inaugurated in September, and Snowy 2.0 in Australia.
US/Thailand InPipe Energy expands HydroXS deployments
Skagit Public Utility District and InPipe Energy launched a community-scale deployment of InPipe’s HydroXS energy recovery system InPipe Energy is advancing the use of energy
recovery from water pipelines with two new HydroXS installations: a community-scale project in Washington State and the company’s first international export to Thailand. The HydroXS system captures energy from
pressurized water in pipelines and converts it into carbon-free electricity. Unlike traditional hydropower, the system does not require dams or new construction, making it suitable for municipal, industrial, and community-scale use. In the US, Skagit Public Utility District (Skagit PUD) and InPipe Energy launched a HydroXS installation at a storage facility near Mount Vernon High School in Washington. The system provides up to 300,000kWh annually, powering electric vehicle charging stations and offsetting school energy use. Over its 30-year lifespan, the installation is expected to prevent more than 9.3 million pounds of CO2
emissions.
“I’m incredibly proud of this project because it shows how shared water infrastructure can do more than deliver water; it can also generate power where it’s needed most,” said Gregg Semler, CEO and founder of InPipe Energy. “From ensuring safe and reliable water delivery to powering EVs and even data centers, this deployment offers a practical and sustainable path forward for cities everywhere.” George Sidhu, general manager of Skagit PUD, added: “The installation demonstrates how public utilities can deliver long-term efficiency gains and energy security using existing infrastructure. Through energy recovery projects like this one with InPipe Energy, we’re protecting our ratepayers from rising electricity costs while ensuring we have an efficient, secure, and affordable water supply for our community.”
Funding came from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Rural Clean Energy Grant and TransAlta’s Centralia Coal Transition Grant. Internationally, InPipe announced its first
HydroXS export to Thailand, where it will be installed at an industrial water company site in Rayong in partnership with Aquaris Initiative and
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