All articles by thonney
thonney
Licensing success for Duke Energy
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a new 40-year operating licence to Duke Energy for the Catawba-Wateree hydroelectric project. The new licence allows the company to continue operating its 13 hydroelectric stations and 11 associated reservoirs located along the Catawba-Wateree River in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Workers killed at Indian project
Two workers are reported to have been killed and half a dozen others injured in a blast at the 450MW Shongtong-Karcham hydropower project which is under construction in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India.
Clean up continues at Brazilian tailings dam site
Mining companies Vale and BHP Billiton have announced plans to work together, with Samarco, to establish a voluntary, non-profit fund to support the rescue and recuperation of the Rio Doce river system. The river was affected by an accident at Samarco’s tailings dams in Brazil on 5 November 2015.
Climate change talks under way in Paris
A fortnight of talks is underway at COP21, the UN climate change conference in France. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has encouraged country leaders to come up with more innovative solutions to address the challenges they face, including financing hydro power dams.
Reservoir potential to provide solar energy
Singapore water agency PUB is embarking on a nine-month feasibility study to determine the solar deployment potential at its reservoirs and facilities. Findings from the study will determine the usable space and guide PUB’s future efforts in solar deployment.
REDC acquires mini hydro in the Philippines
Repower Energy Development Corporation (REDC) has acquired Philippine Power and Development Company (Philpodeco) and three of the country’s oldest operating mini-hydropower plants.
Go ahead given to increase cost of Brazilian hydro
Owners of Brazilian hydropower plants will be permitted to raise electricity charges to their customers if production falls due to the country’s persistent drought.
New UK risk assessment applied to Japanese dams
HR Wallingford has been working with Japan’s largest utility company, J-Power, to apply the new UK reservoir risk assessment approach to two large dams in Japan, and assess the potential impacts of their failure on nearby communities.
University of Maine marine research centre
The Harold Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory has been unveiled at the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Centre in the US.
Canada must not remain on the side lines, new renewables report warns
The Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity (CanCORE) has released its newest report called Powering Climate Prosperity: Canada’s Renewable Electricity Advantage. According to the report, Canada ranks fourth in the world in installed hydro capacity at 77GW, and ranks third for the number of in-stream tidal and wave technology developers. While new projects and upgrades to existing dams currently under construction, and slated to become operational between 2014 and 2020, are expected to add another 4569MW of capacity.