Industry insight 2023 |
year period and so the last 12 months marks a significant milestone in the transition from academic research to practical application. Since its commercial launch, SPiVolt has been deployed in various locations where it assists engineers in understanding how dams react to factors such as reservoir levels, seasonal fluctuations, and heavy rainfall. The data collected from the first commercial installations is substantial, even at this early stage approximately eight thousand data points are generated daily and nearly three million amassed annually. Terradat claims this shows how SPiVolt sits at
the intersection of geophysics and data science. Such large data bases need to be handled efficiently and so coding and data visualisation skills need to be continually enhanced. Another critical aspect of SPiVolt operation over the next few years will be the need to refine how to effectively communicate and visualise this time domain data, translating it into understandable reports for non- specialists. The team at TerraDat says it is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of SPiVolt, aiming to make it a leading approach for the monitoring of leaks and seepages in the years ahead.
Low Impact Hydropower Institute
The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) is a nonprofit organisation which recognises hydropower that prioritises environmental, recreational, historical, and cultural resource protection. Since its beginning in 1999, the Low Impact Hydropower Certification programme has only operated in the US. However, with increasing worldwide interest in their work, entities from around the globe are periodically in contact seeking to use or adapt the programme for their own countries. In response, LIHI is exploring if and how it could expand internationally while adhering to the organisation’s guiding principles and certification programme’s rigorous, science-based approach to evaluating the environmental and social impacts of hydropower. In 2023, LIHI took a major step toward
international collaboration by signing an MOU with the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance to collaboratively explore, through a pilot programme, co-evaluation of hydropower facilities based on each programme’s sustainability standards and to assess the feasibility of dual certification in the US and internationally. On a parallel front, LIHI staff are assisting the
International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Technology Collaboration Programme for Hydropower. Following on from the IEA’s 2022 “Hydropower and Fish Roadmap for Best Practice Management,” the institute is coordinating development of a technical factsheet entitled “Risk assessment for hydropower operation and
Shannon Ames is the Executive Director of the Low Impact Hydropower Institute in the US
hydropower for the sake of it. It’s about more sustainable hydropower to help drive a clean energy future and help meet net zero targets. “Our standard helps the hydropower
fish: the importance of real-time information for mitigation measures” that highlights advanced approaches and challenges related to reducing conflicts between fish and hydropower. Shannon Ames, LIHI Executive Director, has been busy this year sharing insights about sustainable hydropower in the US in both national and international forums. She presented at Nature Hub, a side event of the United Nations 2023 Water Conference in New York City. She also participated on a panel entitled “Measuring up: the case of standards in transparent sustainability claims” at the International Hydropower Association’s World Hydropower Congress in Bali, Indonesia. The panel discussed the pros and cons as well as the challenges faced by certification programmes globally. “By sharing LIHI’s program successes with
international audiences, we hope to encourage greater global adoption of hydropower that balances people and the environment with energy needs. LIHI’s long history with certifying hydropower makes us a unique and powerful source of expertise,” says Ames. Looking to the future, challenges associated with potential expansion of the LIHI programme internationally may include data availability, incorporating differing regulatory regimes, and working within different market dynamics. However, Ames says they are looking forward to ongoing collaboration with international interests they continue to chart a course to enhance LIHI’s global recognition.
A career highlight
The highlight of 2023, and in fact of my career, says João Costa, was contributing to the launch of a new organisation that sets the sustainability benchmark for the sector. A multistakeholder non-profit governed by a combination of public and private sectors, the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA), of which Costa is Executive Director, enhances transparency in the sector through its rigorous sustainability assessment and certification system and a robust capacity building programme. The alliance’s vision is to make sustainable hydropower the norm. It’s not about more
38 | December 2023 |
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sector develop projects that enable healthy ecosystems, prosperous communities, resilient infrastructure and good governance. This reality already exists. We just need to make it the norm,” Costa says. “With this in mind, we are committed to scaling up the adoption of sustainability principles in hydropower by embedding the standard in financial and corporate mechanisms, civil society expectations, and government regulations. Notably, as of October 2023, six hydropower projects received certification, and a growing pipeline awaits assessment.” Ongoing engagement with key influential initiatives and groups like WWF, RE100 and financial institutions such as the World Bank, Swiss Re, and the Climate Bonds Initiative, further emphasise the significance of HSA’s efforts. This collaboration strengthens the foundation for sustainable hydropower practices, contributing to its broader acceptance. Beyond certification, the alliance’s global impact extends through capacity-building programmes in diverse countries, including Colombia, Mozambique, Nepal, Indonesia, Albania, Tajikistan, and Malaysia. These programs, possible only with the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs, actively promote ESG good practices, thereby contributing significantly to the responsible development of the hydropower industry. Finally, through the Hydropower Sustainability Training Academy, nearly 100 professionals worldwide received training on sustainability in hydropower in 2023 alone. This initiative continues equipping individuals with essential tools and skills to enhance the performance of hydropower projects and ensures that the knowledge and practices of sustainability are disseminated widely within the industry.
Looking forward, Costa says the focus
remains on bringing positive change to the industry and enhancing accountable sustainability worldwide, pushing for transparency and continuous improvement.
João Costa, Executive Director of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance
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