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environmental impacts. Based on pre-COVID energy consumption levels in the park, the intertie project is conservatively estimated to avoid 38,000 gallons of fuel per year, and by extension 600 tons of carbon dioxide, plus other emissions.
Global New tool to assess cybersecurity risks at hydro plants A new tool is being developed to allow hydropower operators to assess their risks and make informed investments for enhanced cybersecurity. Supported by the US Department of Energy
Water Power Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) tool named the Cybersecurity Value-at-Risk Framework (CVF) provides hydropower operators complete and customized assessments of their cybersecurity risks and demonstrates how different investments will help improve overall resilience. “This is a much-needed framework for future security and resilience,” said Anuj Sanghvi, an NREL cybersecurity researcher who is helping develop the CVF. “Operators are eager to understand the right resilience investments for their systems, as well as the actual risks themselves. CVF can provide deep insight around how system-specific investments relate to cybersecurity and resilience.” The CVF is designed to be easy and accessible for a facility manager to use. As an online tool, CVF guides users through a detailed analysis of the plant’s operations. Users answer a series of questions, and their responses are then compared against multidimensional criteria for environmental, operational, and economic impact. Results and data from the CVF include specific risk probabilities and scores that are indicative of financial value and that require cybersecurity improvements to withstand future threats. The CVF leverages lessons from the NREL- developed Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework (DER-CF), a successful tool originating from the federal government to secure its facilities, but with wide applicability to sites of many sizes and functions. The CVF borrows the DER-CF’s standardized cyber evaluation method and extends the scope to perform risk, impact, and likelihood scoring all within the valuation platform, angling the assessment to hydro-specific applications. Both frameworks follow National Institute of Standards and Technology guidance for criteria like data handling, risk scores, and environmental footprint, which also aligns facilities with relevant federal regulation. The CVF is currently being validated on an initial case study at Delta Montrose Electric Association’s hydropower facilities. Other utilities and federal agencies are also implementing the CVF and advising on its design. As feedback comes in, NREL and ANL
will continue to develop the framework for web release sometime in 2023.
Papua New Guinea FFI looking to build new hydro and geothermal projects Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) is to undertake feasibility studies on seven new hydropower projects and 11 geothermal energy projects in Papua New Guinea, with the projects electricity expected to be used to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia. FFI’s Papua New Guinea Fortescue Future Industries Ltd, and the State of Papua New Guinea signed a Master Development Agreement (MDA) on 5 November, with the developments likely to create significant new domestic energy and export industry for PNG, which currently heavily relies on imported oil. “Our green energy vision for PNG will lead
to more jobs, a stronger economy, thriving communities and importantly, lower emissions for Papua New Guinea,” commented FFI Chief Executive Officer, Julie Shuttleworth AM. “We share Prime Minister Marape’s vision that PNG can be at the forefront of developing hydropower and geothermal resources for the emerging global green hydrogen industry. We are looking forward to continuing our work alongside the Government of Papua New Guinea to develop these important opportunities.” FFI’s identified projects in PNG could produce
up to 2.3 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year once completed. Its proposed Purari Wabo Hydropower project and West New Britain Geothermal project have made significant progress with scoping studies and early-stage pre-feasibility works completed.
US Tetra Tech-led JV to assess dam safety for USACE A joint venture led by Tetra Tech has been contracted the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Sacramento District to assess and manage risks for dams and levee systems in the western US for up to five years. Under the $110 million deal, Tetra Tech will perform site characterization studies, environmental assessments, engineering evaluations, and hydrologic analyses related to the safety of dams and levee systems. The project team will use advanced analytics and predictive modeling to assess structural integrity and design risk-based management approaches for dam and levee safety. “Increased impacts from climate change
have placed the nation’s dam and levee systems under additional stress from extreme weather events,” said Dan Batrack, Tetra Tech Chairman and CEO. “Tetra Tech looks forward to continuing to use our Leading with Science® approach to support the USACE in reducing flood risks, maintaining public safety, and restoring ecosystems.”
Italy
EIB funds to support small hydro The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing €49 million to Iniziative Bresciane S.p.A. (INBRE) for the construction of 12 small run-of-river hydroelectric plants and the enhancement and restoration of 13 river weirs on the Arno river in Tuscany, Italy. INBRE is to onlend the EIB funds to Iniziative Toscane (Intos) for the project. The restoration and installation work will help
restore the water management infrastructure of the Arno river to improve the region’s climate resilience, including via the reforestation of adjacent areas. The financing will aim to reduce the environmental impact of pre-existing architectural elements and preserve local biodiversity. The operation will help create almost 10MW of renewable energy capacity, with an estimated efficiency of 55GWh a year, as well as further improving the flood safety of the Arno river. When implementing the project, special care will be taken regarding the conservation of historical heritage in the areas of Sieci, Compiobbi, San Niccolò and Isolotto by contributing to the development of flood prevention on the Lungarno. The financing will contribute to the Italian government’s decarbonisation targets in line with the Paris Agreements, and also to the EIB’s own objectives of climate action, pollution prevention and climate change adaptation.
Tajikistan IEA launches hydropower trading roadmap for Tajikistan The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a new roadmap that examines ways Tajikistan could maximise the potential value of its surplus hydropower through cross-border trading, helping to advance renewable energy throughout central Asia. The IEA developed its energy policy Roadmap on Cross-Border Electricity Trading for Tajikistan as part of its work through the EU4Energy Programme. The Roadmap is being launched today as part of a Cross-Border Electricity Trading Workshop, featuring input from the Tajik Ministry of Water and Energy Resources, as well as the Asian Development Bank and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The Roadmap examines tangible steps Tajik policy makers can take to facilitate effective cross-border integration of electricity markets, benefiting not only Tajikistan, but also the surrounding region. Some of these steps include: Tajikistan and its neighbours investing in developments of their regulatory and market institutions; refurbishment and upgrade work on Tajikistan’s facilities to improve technical flexibility, which would increase its ability to provide additional ancillary services to its neighbours in the regional market.
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