| Industry insight 2023


2. We’re convening water power: This year’s Clean Currents – NHA’s annual water power conference and trade show – was a major success. We gathered more than 1600 participants and 200+ exhibitors from across America and around the world at this year’s event in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since we launched the conference in 2019, Clean Currents has continued to grow, becoming the go-to water power event by and for the industry as it offers a unique selection of presentations and learning sessions that appeal to a wide array of water power professionals.


3. We’re creating new opportunities for growth: NHA is excited to soon launch a new certification programme, which will make it easier for water power professionals to stay at the top of their game in a rapidly changing industry. We understand that fulfilling hydro’s potential to power America and tackle the climate crisis will require a highly skilled workforce, and we’re excited to help provide expert training for people of all backgrounds. In 2023, I felt the tide turn for our industry. Water power, which has been viewed by many as an afterthought in the energy sector, is beginning to get the attention and investment it deserves. NHA can’t wait to build on that momentum in 2024.


Terry Stebbings, Director of Proterra Energy


This year we have shown that innovation in how we integrate hydro schemes as part of our energy systems is key to successful project development. In Scotland we have a proud heritage of


hydro installations, yet hydro makes up a reducing percentage of our energy mix these days because of the growth in onshore and offshore wind and mains gas in urban areas. But the hydropower potential that still exists is an asset we have on our doorsteps. There was significant growth in small hydro


from 2010–2018, powered by the Feed in Tariff subsidy from government. This provided security against the higher capital cost of hydro


Above: Terry Stebbings is the Director of Proterra Energy


installations but has now been removed and there has been a cliff edge style drop in the number of installations. Our last hydro install was an off-grid system in 2019, made viable because of the cost of diesel. For the last three to four years our hydro involvement has principally been O&M. This year we have installed two new micro


hydro schemes which has been a welcome return to these projects, enabled by innovative thinking in how these schemes are connected to the grid, how their power is utilised, and the increased cost of electricity. We’ve still faced a number of consenting challenges in delivering these schemes. These weren’t technical challenges but organisational issues within the consenting bodies of planning, environment and the grid. These are mostly legislative changes that have little to do with the technical and environmental issues and further hamper development. Despite these challenges, we believe in


Scotland as a Hydro Nation. The two 2023 schemes have kept that belief alive and we have two other schemes planned for 2024: the refurbishment of 35-year-old off-grid scheme, integrating with solar to create a hybrid power system which will enable the redevelopment of a currently unused remote property; and a version of one of the schemes we built this year, a hydro/solar hybrid with an innovative grid connection that will provide locally produced power to a number of remote properties. Hydro is an established technology but with innovative thinking around use of power, it can continue to be relevant in Scotland.


CEATI highlights


Above: Malcom Woolf, President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association in the US


In 2023, CEATI’s Dam Safety Interest Group reached 83 member organisations, including dam owners and power producers from nine different countries. Some of the year’s highlights include hosting a failure modes workshop about risk assessment in dam safety management, with insightful presentations from members in Canada, the US and Sweden (OPG and BC Hydro, USBR, and Energiforsk). As more utilities are successfully incorporating


risk into their failure mode identification and analysis process, CEATI says working sessions like this are increasingly beneficial to aid in the development of these processes. In August, a Dam Anchoring Principles


research report was published which includes guidelines and recommendations from US, Australian, and European organisations and describes current approaches to corrosion protection, structural design, construction, and long-term monitoring of dam anchors. Looking ahead to 2024, Lizzie Smith, VP Generation at CEATI says they’re excited for their annual hydropower conference on 19-20 March in Palm Springs. Over 600 attendees are expected, including members of CEATI’s three hydropower interest groups (Dam Safety, Hydropower Plant Equipment, and Hydropower Operations & Planning) representing over 100 utilities and dam owners, and industry experts.


Kleinschmidt’s commitment


Over the past year, Kleinschmidt played a pivotal role in the hydropower industry’s knowledge exchange by collaborating with the National Hydropower Association and Ontario Water Association to release the second Ear to the River Hydropower Industry Report. Providing insights beyond publicly available information, such as FERC filings, the survey’s primary objective is to fully capture the industry’s future trajectory.


In 2023 Kleinschmidt was honored by the Zweig Group, a well-known AEC industry consultant, with the Best Firms to Work for Award across North America, while it was also the inaugural sponsor of the Hydropower Foundation’s Waterpower Club/Waterpower Community Partnership. This initiative unites the sector with tomorrow’s energy innovators through student-led waterpower clubs at universities and a broader waterpower community to address workforce development needs in the hydropower sector. Among the projects Kleinschmidt secured this year was:


A study for Holyoke Gas and Electric to monitor the Shortnose Sturgeon at Holyoke Dam.


Engineering and permitting services for Seattle Public Utilities at South Fork Tolt Dam. The second-year engineering services for the Hood Canal Bridge Fish Passage Improvement Project with Long Live the Kings.


The firm also collaborated on a transformative project at the Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam, achieving a design that enhances fishway performance while reducing costs. On a personnel note, Alison Jakupca’s appointment as the new Chair of Kleinschmidt’s Board of Directors marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman to hold this position in the company’s history. Additionally, Eric Turgeon’s recognition as a FERC-


www.waterpowermagazine.com | December 2023 | 35


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