International Water Power & Dam Construction

🌊  January Digital Edition ⚡ As you await the February issue to hit your desk, don’t miss our January edition, packed with expert insights on the latest innovations, challenges, and advancements shaping the industry. 🔹 How Italy is balancing dam rehabilitation with innovation to sustain aging infrastructure 🔹 Spotlight on Preformed Windings new Sheffield facility 🔹 Embracing digital twin technology to revolutionize the sector 🔹 AI-powered risk management: How Synectics’ Synergy DETECT is driving smarter decision-making 🔹 Herrenknecht AG’s expertise: Navigating challenges and rewards in tunnelling 🔹 Lessons from Switzerland: Insights that are enhancing Alaska’s Lowell Creek flood project 🔹 A deep dive into how investment is shaping the future of hydropower 🔹 The Hydro Academy: Bridging knowledge gaps through training 🔹 Eddie Rich of the IHA on why sustainable hydropower is essential for energy transition, climate resilience, and water management 🔹 Energyfish: A revolutionary eco-friendly micro-hydro solution harnessing rivers for renewable energy 🔹 Spiralis Energy’s tidal innovation: Sustainable, predictable, and eco-friendly power generation 🔹 Major milestone: BC Hydro completes the filling of the Site C reservoir, marking a new phase in hydropower development 🔹 Investing in the future: A $1 million initiative to recruit, train, and empower the next generation of US hydropower professionals 🚀 Stay ahead of industry trends – read the full digital edition now! 👉 https://lnkd.in/eYjngHtN #hydropower #dams #tunnelling #sustainableenergy #AI #waterpower #tidalenergy

Snowy Hydro Limited has announced an immediate independent safety review and audit of the Snowy 2.0 project following a serious safety incident earlier this week. The company will also require changes to the leadership of principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture (FGJV) as part of its response. The actions come after an underground fan failed on Tuesday morning, losing part of its blade. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. As a precaution, all underground work was halted to allow for a thorough inspection of all fans. FGJV is collaborating with SafeWork NSW to assess their safety, with the goal of progressively resuming underground operations. “Nothing is more important to Snowy Hydro than safety,” the company said in a statement. “Recent safety concerns at Snowy 2.0 have made it clear that as the client, our assurance role over FGJV’s activities requires this intervention.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/edhPYSYc

SSE Renewables is investing £70 million to repower Lochay Hydro Power Station in Perthshire, Scotland. This upgrade will modernize the 45MW plant with new turbine technology, extending its operational life by at least 40 years and boosting renewable energy production. Construction begins in April 2025, creating up to 80 jobs, with key contractors like Voith Hydro, Global Infrastructure Scotland Ltd, AJT Engineering Ltd., Stantec, Konecranes Demag UK, and McDonald Scaffolding involved. This project supports Scotland’s renewable energy goals and net-zero targets. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eJkPHYpN

YACYRETÁ PROJECT, ARGENTINA AND PARAGUAY The Yacyretá hydroelectric project straddles the border between Argentina and Paraguay. It harnesses the power of the Paraná River – the second-largest river in Latin America and one of the largest in the world –to generate clean electricity for millions of people. The main works of this bi-national project are located approximately 80 km downstream from the cities of Encarnación and Posadas, on the Argentinian-Paraguayan border. The project, conceived in 1973 through a treaty between Argentina and Paraguay, came to fruition after years of planning and construction. The dam's construction began in 1983, and the first turbine began operation in 1994. Today, the Yacyretá complex consists of a nearly 70km-long dam, making it one of the longest of its kind in the world. It creates a reservoir with a surface area of 1,600 km² and a total volume of water of 21 billion m³ when filled to its design level. The dam begins on the Argentinian side of the Paraná River, passing through the river's navigable stretch (Brazo Principal) downstream from the Apipé rapids. It stretches for 18.7km on Yacyretá Island before crossing the Aña-Cuá stretch and extending along the Paraguayan bank to the town of San Cosme y Damián. Due to the river's huge dimensions and flow capacity, engineers had to implement complex operations to safeguard the natural environment and local populations, overcoming significant challenges over more than a decade of construction phases. At the heart of the Yacyretá plant are 20 Kaplan turbines, each with a capacity of 160MW, bringing the total installed capacity to 3,200MW. This makes Yacyretá one of the largest hydroelectric facilities in South America, capable of generating approximately 22% of Argentina's national energy demand. The main concrete structure of the dam is 270m long and 27m wide. The dam features a ship lock that maintains crucial transportation links and a fish ladder that enables migratory fish species to move upstream and maintain their natural breeding cycles. One of the most remarkable features of the Yacyretá complex is its ability to handle extreme water flows. The main branch of the dam includes a slope with eighteen gates capable of managing a maximum flow of 55,000 cubic meters per second, while an additional sixteen gates in the secondary branch can handle another 40,000 cubic meters per second. This design ensures the dam's ability to cope with flood conditions while maintaining power generation. Beyond its energy contributions, the Yacyretá project has played a significant role in the regional economy. During its construction, it created approximately 12,000 jobs, boosting employment opportunities in nearby communities. Over time, the site has also become one of the main tourist attractions in the area, drawing visitors interested in its impressive engineering and environmental significance.

Really useful resource from the United States Society on Dams (USSD) #dams #USSD #levees

Pumped storage hydropower is taking center stage in Australia’s energy transition. At the Pumped Storage: Powering Australia’s Energy Future event, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors came together to discuss the urgent need for long-duration energy storage. NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe and International Hydropower Association (IHA) President Malcolm Turnbull highlighted the crucial role of pumped hydro in ensuring grid stability as Australia scales up renewables. With coal closures on the horizon, now is the time to act. Industry leaders agree: pumped hydro must be accelerated to support a secure, low-carbon future. Read the full story to learn more about key takeaways and what’s next for Australia’s energy transition. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQeUGr3P

⚒ Welcome to this week's edition of International Water Power & Dam Construction's regular newsletter 👉 Invite your colleagues and connections to the International Water Power & Dam Construction group, a network of industry professionals on LinkedIn, for daily updates on the sector. 👉 Follow International Water Power & Dam Construction for daily news updates and regular project spotlights #hydropower #hydroelectric #dams

Tunnelling through steep mountain ranges is no easy feat—especially at a 42-degree incline. At Austria’s Limberg 3 hydropower project, a tunnel boring machine (TBM) from Herrenknecht AG successfully excavated a 770m-long shaft, overcoming extreme geological challenges. From adapting TBM platforms for steep gradients to stabilizing unpredictable rock formations, innovative tunnelling methods are pushing the boundaries of renewable energy infrastructure. As hydropower plays a growing role in the global energy transition, these advancements are critical. Read more about the engineering behind Limberg 3 and other key hydropower plants: https://lnkd.in/eS9W4i8k #hydropower #hydroelectric #tunnelling #tunnelboringmachine

Iberdrola España has begun commissioning the first pumping station at the Valdecañas pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Cáceres, Extremadura. The facility has a total capacity of 225MW and features a 15MW hybrid battery system with 7.5 MWh of stored energy. The new system increases energy storage in the Tajo basin to 210GWh, which Iberdrola states is equivalent to the capacity of 5.2 million electric vehicle batteries. The plant’s three sets are undergoing technological upgrades to restore its full pumping capacity. The improvements are also expected to enhance water quality by increasing the volume of water moving through the reservoirs. The plant is expected to cut CO2 emissions by 200,000 tonnes annually through greater renewable energy integration. It is also generating employment, with 165 direct jobs and an estimated 500 indirect jobs, benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises in the region. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d_8TxT_Q #hydropower #pumpedstorage #hydroelectric

🚀 Successful 100% Load Rejection Test at Mtkvari Hydropower Plant! As part of the commissioning process for the 53MW Mtkvari Hydropower Plant in Georgia, a crucial 100% Load Rejection Test has been successfully completed. The test showcases the plant’s hydraulic performance, with the video clearly illustrating transient effects in the surge shaft (sped up 4x for better visualisation). 🔹 Key project highlights: ✅ Gross Head: ~103m ✅ Rated Discharge: 64 m³/s ✅ Waterway System: 9.6 km headrace tunnel, 42.5m surge tank, and two penstocks ✅ Powerhouse: Two identical vertical-axis Francis turbines ✅ Total Capacity: 54.1 MW (including a 1.1 MW small hydropower plant) This project marks a major milestone in strengthening Georgia’s energy independence while advancing the nation’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. 🌍⚡ 📽️ Watch the video to see the test in action. Video and information from Leontina Galdava, Chief Executive Officer Mtkvari HPP #Hydropower #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Georgia #EnergyIndependence