| Industry insight 2023
Kate Gilmartin is the CEO of the British Hydropower Association
Ajay Chaudhary
effectively, and sustainably. It can also help address challenges and opportunities, such as increasing renewable energy share, enhancing grid stability, and adapting to climate change.
Hello Frankie
The British Hydropower Association
This has been an exciting year for me, says Kate Gilmartin from the British Hydropower Association. As the newly appointed CEO just over a year ago, coinciding with energy being at the top of the political agenda as one of the main factors fuelling the cost of living crisis, she says it’s been a very busy year. As a mature, proven, reliable technology
hydropower is often overlooked in the scrum to find a silver bullet solution in an emerging technology. However, she says, the industry and the technology are faithfully powering away, decade after decade as the work horse of renewable energy generation. The BHA have been given numerous opportunities this year to present at events across the UK. However, the pinnacle was the invitation to present as part of the opening plenary at the Hydro 2023 conference in Edinburgh. The BHA hosted a UK pavilion and there was a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere across the event with a sense that hydropower is seeing a renaissance across the world. There is a clear need and determination to deliver considerable amounts of pumped storage hydropower to help counter the increasing amounts of intermittent solar and wind. As the country rapidly decarbonises the grid, the need for speeding up the delivery of a digitalised smart grid intensifies, and with it brings immeasurable opportunities for generators and consumers alike. Conferences across the UK have been buzzing with ideas and knowledge-sharing with innovation being central to our vision of a net zero grid fit for the future.
Benefits of digital modelling
Advanced computer modelling – including bespoke systems – enabled Mott Macdonald to evaluate options for technical challenges at Albania’s Skavica Hydropower Project, says Ajay Chaudhary, Project Principal and the company’s Account Lead for Hydropower. The Skavica project is expected to improve Albania’s national power security by not only increasing generating capacity through the construction of a new dam and powerhouse, but by boosting the output of existing hydropower plants that form the Drin River
cascade, through better regulation of the water storage available in the reservoirs downstream. With such a rich vein of information available
to the project team for evaluating options, it is perhaps unsurprising that the client Bechtel required Mott MacDonald to be fully Building Information Modelling (BIM) compliant during the project development phase. BIM is a process that can help improve the delivery of hydropower projects by: Enhancing collaboration and coordination among stakeholders and disciplines involved. Reducing project risks and costs by identifying and resolving potential conflicts and errors in the design stage before costly and time-consuming issues arise during construction. It also allows for simulation and optimisation of various aspects of the project, such as scheduling, budgeting, safety, and environmental impact. Improving project quality and performance by ensuring consistency and accuracy of information and documents derived from the digital model and facilitates the integration and interoperability of various systems and components, such as hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment. Supporting operation and maintenance by providing comprehensive and up-to-date records of the project’s history, condition, and performance. It can also enable the use of advanced technologies, such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence, to monitor and manage the project throughout its lifecycle. BIM is a powerful digital tool that can help deliver hydropower projects more efficiently,
A highlight for me for 2023, says Gemma Regniez, Head of Communications and Advocacy at the International Hydropower Association, has to be the introduction of Frankie. Frankie is the new mascot to the hydropower community, a robotic friend formed out of various elements that make up a hydro facility, including the Francis Turbine and a hydrostatic head inspired by the Kaplan Turbine. The aim of Frankie’s introduction was to provide an engaging, supportive character who can translate complicated information about hydropower into interesting facts. Sustainable hydropower’s new mascot was first introduced as part of IHA’s Global Hydropower Day activity on 11 October with the aim of providing an engaging and friendly vehicle for the industry to share their stories with the rest of the world. The industry got fully behind the idea with Frankie popping up all over the world including at the NHA’s Clean Currents event in the US, Mainstream’s events in Nigeria and advertising from the Federation of Indian Small Hydropower. But Frankie really came into his own at the
World Hydropower Congress in Bali where he was there to greet the 1000 attendees from 50 different countries. Everyone wanted a picture with him, including His Excellency President Joko Widodo the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia. (see attached image, Frankie meets President Joko Widodo). Creating Frankie was a bit of a risk for IHA, we
wanted to create something that could be easily used by the hydropower community to engage a wide range of people in hydropower’s offer to net zero. We wanted to avoid something that was considered too childlike but still maintain an element of fun and positivity in the mix. So far Frankie seems to have ticked those boxes and with the need for investment in clean energy never greater, I’m looking forward to seeing what he gets up to in 2024.
Above: Hydropower’s new mascot Frankie was introduced on Global Hydropower Day
www.waterpowermagazine.com | December 2023 | 39
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
