Water Power and Dam Construction. Issue September 2010
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INTERNATIONAL WATER POWER & DAM CONSTRUCTION SEPTEMBER 2010
SEPTEMBER 2010
Serving the hydro industry for over 60 years
Dam safety: learning from the past
Project finance under the spotlight
Focus on Europe
INTERNATIONAL
& DAM CONSTRUCTION
WWW.WATERPOWERMAGAZINE.COM
SEPTEMBER 2010
& DAM CONSTRUCTION
WWW.WATERPOWERMAGAZINE.COM
Water Power
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E
nergy is the key to development and design of our future. Proven and new
technologies allow the reasonable use of renewable energies such as
hydropower. Thus, precious primary energy resources are preserved.
Hydropower has been a focus of Lahmeyer International for more than 40
years. Currently we are involved in some of the largest ongoing projects
worldwide.
As an independent company of consulting engineers, Lahmeyer International
provides planning, engineering, management and consultancy services for
economic and technical projects.
Successful solutions to complex technical tasks are based on decades of
experience in extensive infrastructure projects worldwide.
Hydropower and Water Resources
Hydropower planning
Hydropower and hydraulic structures design
Electro-mechanical equipment
Sustainable water and land resources development
Geotechnical engineering, geology and dams
Contract management and cost control
Water supply and waste water management
Geomatics
Operation, Maintenance and Training
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Lahmeyer International GmbH
Consulting Engineers
Friedberger Str. 173
61118 Bad Vilbel, Germany
Tel. +49 (61 01) 55 - 12 76
Fax +49 (61 01) 55 - 17 15
E-mail info@lahmeyer.de
Internet http://www.lahmeyer.de
Engineering Partner
for Hydropower
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CONTENTS
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*/5&3/"5*0/"-8"5&3108&3%".$0/4536$5*0/t*44/97olumeNumbertSEPTEMBER 2010 3
DAM
ENGINEERING
ModernPowerSystems
COMMUNICATING POWER TECHNOLOGY WORLDWIDE
COVER: Read more about the
project finance initiatives in
Europe from p14
24
50
17
14
70
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
72
WORLD MARKETPLACE
REGULARS
4
WORLD NEWS
10
DIARY
FEATURES
PROJECT FINANCE
14
EBRD lends a hand
The EBRD is helping to improve energy security in Ukraine
through the launch of a new lending facility
17
New and renewed funding in Europe
Development banks are funding both new hydro and
refurb schemes in a number of European countries
EUROPE
20
Mapping out hydro’s future
Where can new small hydro schemes be deployed in
England and Wales?
24
Modernization of the Wroclaw floodway system
Construction work is well underway on one of Europe’s
largest flood protection systems
28
Uniting European hydropower
Reporting on the South East Europe Hydropower project
UPRATING & REFURBISHMENT
32
ROT work in Macedonia
A rehabilitate-operate-transfer project is being carried
out on seven hydro schemes in Macedonia
38
Challenges at Chasewater
Addressing internal erosion at the UK dam
44
Concrete facts for air gap vibration
Detailing refurbishment works at Rocky Reach
RESEARCH
50
Learning from international dam safety incidents
Selecting important case studies from a recent CEATI
workshop on international dam safety incidents
62
The dredging option
Is dredging the solution to sedimentation problems at
South Fork Rivanna reservoir in the US
66
Near or far?
Can wave energy converters be placed nearshore? Dr
Matt Folley explains recent research into the issue
CONFERENCE PREVIEW
69
Fair game in Austria
A preview to the RENEXPO Austra Trade Fair, to be
held 25-27 November in Salzburg
4 SEPTEMBER 2010 INTERNATIONAL WATER POWER & DAM CONSTRUCTION
WORLD NEWS
A
N ACCIDENT THAT LED TO THE
death of five industrial paint-
ing contractors inside an Xcel
Energy hydroelectric plant tunnel in
Georgetown, Colorado, in 2007 was
the result of several vital safety fail-
ures, the US Chemical Safety Board
(CSB) determined in a nal investiga-
tion report released yesterday.
The accident occurred in the pen-
stock of the Cabin Creek pumped stor-
age project,, located 45 miles west
of Denver. The painting contractors,
from RPI Coating, Inc., were recoating
a 1530ft steel portion of the 4300ft
penstock when a ash re suddenly
erupted as the vapor from ammable
solvent, used to clean the epoxy spray-
ing wands, ignited, probably from a
static spark in the vicinity of the spray-
ing machine, said the report. The ini-
tial re quickly grew, igniting additional
buckets of the solvent, methyl ethyl
ketone (MEK), and other combustible
epoxy materials stored nearby.
The CSB concluded the causes
of the accident included (1) a lack
of planning and training for hazard-
ous work by Xcel and its contractor,
RPI Coating, Inc., (2) Xcel’s selection
of RPI despite its having the lowest
possible safety rating (zero) among
competing contractors, and (3) allow-
ing volatile ammable liquids to be
introduced into a permit-required con-
ned space without necessary special
precautions.
The CSB report found that the per-
mit-required conned space rule set by
the US Occupational Health and Safety
Administration (OSHA) does not pro-
hibit entry or work in conned spaces
where the concentration of ammable
vapor exceeds 10% of the chemical’s
lower explosive limit, or LEL.
OSHA’s rule does state that an
atmosphere exceeding 10% of the
LEL creates an atmosphere “immedi-
ately dangerous to life and health” and
that steps should be taken to dene
safe entry conditions; however, the
rule does not dene what those safe
entry conditions should be or speci-
cally prohibit entry into such hazardous
atmospheres, the report notes. The
CSB recommended OSHA establish
a fixed maximum percentage of the
LEL for entry so that work in potentially
ammable atmospheres would be pro-
hibited.
Additionally, the Board made recom-
mendations to the company, the gov-
ernor of Colorado, the Colorado Public
Utilities Commission, trade groups,
and other organizations.
There were ten workers in the tunnel
and one at the entrance at the time of
the re. Five were unable to get around
the re on the painting platform to get
to the only available exit – the impro-
vised tunnel entrance. Five workers on
the other side of the platform made it
to safety, although three of those work-
ers sustained injuries.
The CSB said that Xcel and RPI
failed to have technically-qualied con-
ned space rescue crews immediately
standing by at the penstock in case
of emergency, as required by regula-
tions. Workers called 911 for help but
responders entering the penstock had
to retreat in the thick smoke, as did
workers who had approached the re
with extinguishers.
The closest conned space techni-
cal rescue unit – equipped and trained
to enter the smoke-lled tunnel – was
approximately one hour and 15 min-
utes away. The trapped workers died
about one hour before this response
unit arrived, their escape blocked by
a steep vertical section of the tunnel
deep inside the mountain, says the
report.
The CSB investigation determined
that while companies are required
to perform a hazard analysis prior to
issuing permits for work in conned
spaces, regulatory standards pertain-
ing to the use of flammables within
conned spaces are inadequate.
The CSB recommended that OSHA
amend its confined space rule to
establish a maximum percentage sub-
stantially below the lower explosive
limit for any given ammable for safe
entry and occupancy while working.
The CSB made recommenda-
tions to nine other entities. These
included that the governor implement
an accredited reghter certication
program for technical rescue with
specialty areas including confined
space rescue; that the Colorado
Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
require regulated utilities to adopt
provisions for selecting contractors
based on safety performance meas-
ures and qualications; and that the
PUC require utilities to investigate all
incidents resulting in death, serious
injury or signicant property damage
and submit and make public written
ndings and recommendations within
one year of the accident.
Numerous recommendations were
made to RPI Coating, particularly
aimed at revising its conned space
entry program and guidance.
In a statement, Xcel Energy said it
has become increasingly careful about
which contractors it hires and has
improved oversight of contractors. The
company has also increased safety
training for its project managers and
for contractors who work for Xcel.
Safety failures highlighted in report
on fatal Cabin Creek penstock fire
World Bank urged to scale-up support for hydro
A
REPORT ON THE WORLD Bank
Group’s Water Strategy released
at the end of August has called
for increased support for hydropower,
including high-risk, high-reward infra-
structure projects, while also urging
a more integrated approach to water
management.
The Mid-Cycle Implementation
Progress Report for the Water
Resources Strategy – entitled
Sustaining Water for All in a Changing
Climate –reafrms the soundness
of the Bank Group’s 2003 water
strategy and project implementation
track record. It notes highly satisfac-
tory outcome ratings for Bank water
projects, and an appropriate empha-
sis on high-priority countries, that is,
countries whose people face obsta-
cles to their access to water.
But the report, drafted by Nancy
Vandycke, also laments slow progress
on the Millennium Development Goal
of reducing by half the proportion of
people without access to improved
sanitation, as well as the continuing
shortage of reliable data on water
availability and use.
Specically, the report, endorsed
by the World B ank Bo a rd ’ s
C ommittee on De v e l o p m e n t
Effectiveness (CODE), directs the
Bank Group to:
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to water resource management to
meet growing demand for water in a
climate-resilient way;
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as the largest source of renewable
and low-carbon energy, including
high-risk, high-reward infrastructure
projects;
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change adaptation and mitigation;
r*ODSFBTFBTTJTUBODFUPBHSJDVMUVSBM
water management; and
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sanitation to the 2.6 billion people
who still live without it, in both rural
areas and fast-growing urban slums.
Inger Andersen, Vice-President
for Sustainable Development at the
World Bank, welcomed the Progress
Report, singling out its reafrmation
of the institution’s commitment to
help developing countries to upgrade
or build adequate hydraulic infra-
structure, or remove obstacles to it.
“Only 23% of hydropower potential
located in developing countries has
been exploited. The gains for the
poor can be enormous,” she said.
“To achieve those gains successful-
ly we must engage with communities
pro-actively to identify local benets
and manage and mitigate any risks
associated with hydropower projects.
In that manner, all people benet,
today and tomorrow.”
The report, launched at Bank
Group headquarters, echoes ndings
of the Independent Evaluation Group
(IEG) March 2010 study of the Bank’s
water portfolio. Both reviews found
that, as lending in the water sector
has increased, project performance
has improved, with satisfactory rat-
ings consistently higher than the
Bank-wide average of 75%.
Water Sector Manager Bucknall
welcomed the guidance provided by
the report. “Its ndings show that the
2003 strategy correctly identied the
key factors that inuence the water
sector today, namely population,
growth, urbanization, and climate
change. The strategic directions out-
lined in this report—aligned with key
ndings in the IEG report on water—
will guide the Bank’s Water Anchor
and the regions from now to 2013.”
WWW.WATERPOWERMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER 2010 5
WORLD NEWS
Largest tidal turbine unveiled
A
1MW TIDAL TURBINE THAT IS
due to be installed in Scotland
later this year has been
unveiled by its manufacturer, Atlantis
Resources Corporation.
The 1300-tonne machine is
thought to be the largest and most
powerful tidal power turbine ever
built, and will be put in place at a
dedicated berth at the European
Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in
Orkney.
Its unveiling was described by
Atlantis as a major milestone for the
company as well as for the develop-
ment of the UK’s marine power indus-
try as a whole. “Today is not just
about our technology, it is about the
emergence of tidal power as a viable
asset class that will require the devel-
opment of local supply chains employ-
ing local people to deliver sustainable
energy to the local grid,” said Atlantis
CEO Timothy Cornelius.
“The AK1000 [turbine] takes the
industry one step closer to commer-
cial scale tidal power projects.”
According to Atlantis the AK1000
tidal turbine will dispatch 1MW of
predictable power at a water veloc-
ity of 2.65m/sec. It has an 18m
rotor diameter, stands 22.5m high
and is the culmination of ten years
of research and development by the
Singapore-based rm.
The AK1000 will be installed on
the seabed at EMEC and connected
to the local Orkney grid. Its low rota-
tional speed means that the device
is environmentally benign, says
Atlantis, which began scaled testing
of tidal prototype designs in 2002.
Since 2002, Atlantis has built,
tested and grid-connected a 100kW
tidal device known as the Aquanator,
and a 150kW device called Nereus.
In 2008 it unveiled its Solon (AS)
series to the market.
G
DF SUEZ LOOKS SET TO
take control of the UK’s
International Power after the
French rm sweetened the deal with a
cash dividend for International Power
shareholders.
The two companies have signed
a memorandum of understanding
detailing the deal, which would see
GDF Suez Energy International’s
assets transferred to International
Power to create the world’s largest
independent power producer.
If the deal goes ahead, GDF Suez
will own a 70 per cent stake in the
new company, which will be known
as New International Power. The
remaining 30 per cent of the new
group will be owned by International
Power shar eholders, who will
receive a 92 pence-per-share spe-
cial dividend.
The industrial logic of the pro-
posed deal is “compelling” due
to the benefits for shareholders,
customers and employees and the
geographic and operational fit of
the businesses, say the two com-
panies. The deal is also in line with
GDF Suez’s ambition to expand its
electricity generating capacity out-
side France.
New International Power will
operate over 66 GW of generat-
ing capacity around the world, with
an additional 22 GW of committed
projects in the pipeline. It will also
have a “well balanced portfolio” of
assets in terms of geographic pres-
ence, fuel mix and contract type.
Total synergies from the merger
will amount to £165 million per
year, say GDF Suez and International
Power.
“This agreement, which combines
these two businesses, creates the
leading global energy player in IPP
with strong market positions in Latin
America, North America, UK-Europe,
the Middle East, Asia and Australia,”
said Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman
and CEO of GDF SUEZ. “The com-
bined business will have both
the operational expertise and the
financial flexibility to capture the
signicant growth opportunities in
international energy infrastructure
markets over the next decade.”
Mestrallet added: “As a result
of this transaction, GDF SUEZ will
achieve its strategic objective of
100 GW in operation and strength-
en its worldwide leadership in power
generation.”
GDF Suez is 35%owned by the
French state. International Power
owns around 5 GW of generating
capacity in the UK and the deal
may raise concerns there following
the sale of nuclear power operator
British Energy to French state-owned
rm EDF in 2008.
New International Power
to be world’s biggest IPP
From the Editor
Dear readers,
An important publication has recently been launched
by the International Hydropower Association (IHA)
– the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater
Reservoirs. The guidelines mark a major milestone in
the UNESCO/IHA Greenhouse Gas Status of Freshwater
Reservoirs Project, an initiative started in 2008 to
advance scientific understanding on the greenhouse
gas status of freshwater reservoirs.
The guidelines – developed through a two year, consen-
sus-based, scientific approach – come at a very timely
moment with much discussion about GHG emissions
from reservoirs.
As far as I’m aware, there are no similar guidelines pub-
lished elsewhere, so for the hydro and dams industry
the measurement of such emissions has always been
a daunting task. Just where do you start? How do you
measure the impacts of emissions from reservoirs? Do
they actually emit more emissions than the ecosystems
they replace?
This new publication aims to address these questions,
giving the industry a standard on measuring emissions.
It has been developed to provide a comprehensive
tool to assess the GHG status of freshwater reservoirs,
including definitive guidance on measurement and
qualification of emissions resulting from the formation
of reservoirs.
Guidance covers: concepts and processes involved in
making such measurements; the approach to conduct-
ing field measurements; and guidance on calculating
results.
With the concept of global application being at the
forefront of the development of the GHG Measurement
Guidelines, IHA has ensured that the methodology con-
tained within the publication is applicable to all climate
types and reservoir conditions. By providing the tools
required to determine net GHG emissions in a selected
set of reservoirs, IHA’s intention is to ensure that the
results gained will be utilised to develop predictive
tools, thereby avoiding the necessity of such intensive
field measurements in the future. It is anticipated that
shared results from the use of these GHG Measurement
Guidelines will contribute to this.
IHA says it would encourage any organisation that has
an interest in GHG emissions from freshwater reser-
voirs to utilise the GHG Measurement Guidelines. The
publication is available in both printed and electronic
(pdf) formats and can be ordered directly from the IHA
website at: www.hydropower.org/climate_initiatives/
GHG_Measurement_Guidelines.html
Best wishes
Carrieann Stocks
Editor
Email: carrieannstocks@globaltrademedia.com
6 SEPTEMBER 2010 INTERNATIONAL WATER POWER & DAM CONSTRUCTION
WORLD NEWS
In brief
THE 3150MW SANTO
Antonio dam in Brazil’s
Amazon region will start
generating electric-
ity in December 2011,
ve months earlier than
previously planned. This
is the second revision
to the project’s conces-
sion contract, which had
originally scheduled the
project for generation
in late 2012, Dow Jones
newswire reported. The
project, part of the Maderia
hydroelectric complex, is
being developed by the
Santo Antonio Energia
consortium, which is made
of up Odebrecht, Eletrobras
subsidiary Furnas and Cia
Energetica de Minas Gerais.
THE FIRST UNIT OF
the $200M Kambarata-2
hydrolectric plant has
been launched into
operation by Kyrgyzstan’s
Acting President Roza
Otunbayeva, Reuters has
reported. The project – part
funded by Russia – is the
rst hydroelectric scheme
to be placed into operation
in the country since the col-
lapse of the Soviet Union.
The project, which was
initially abandoned in the
1990s and then resurrected
three years ago, is the rst
of several projects planned
for development on the
Naryn River. Two more
units are to be installed at
the project.
THE GOVERNMENT OF
Mozambique has given the
green light for construction
of the 1500MW Mphanda
Nkuwa project on the
Zambezi River, Bloomberg
has reported. Building work
is expected to start on the
$2B scheme next year,
following completion of
environmental and social
impact studies.
Hammerfest Strøm awards
contracts for Scottish tidal project
N
orwegian tidal-power devel-
oper Hammerfest Strøm has
announced major contracts
worth £4M to construct the rst of
its advanced HS1000 tidal turbines
in Scotland.
Fife-based Burntisland Fabrication
Limited (BiFab) has been awarded
the largest single contract for the
fabrication of the sub-structure for
the turbine, which will be installed at
the European Marine Energy Centre
in Orkney next year.
ScottishPower Renewables (SPR),
a major shareholder in Hammerfest
Strøm for the last five years, has
already submitted a planning
application to install ten HS1000
machines at a tidal-power array
in the Sound of Islay on the west
coast of Scotland. Beyond this, SPR
is developing a 95 turbine project
at Ness of Duncansbay in the
Pentland Firth as part of The Crown
Estate’s rst marine energy leasing
round. The company also conrmed
that it will be entering the Ness of
Duncansbay project into the Scottish
Government’s £10M Saltire Prize for
marine energy innovation.
W e l c o m i n g H a m m e r f e s t ’ s
announcement, ScottishPower
Renewables’ Managing Director
Keith Anderson said: “ScottishPower
Renewables is committed to leading
the development of new renewable
energy technologies in the UK, and
we already have major projects
planned utilising wave and tidal
power. Following the deployment
of the initial HS1000 machine in
Orkney, SPR is planning to install
ten of the machines in the Sound
of Islay, which will be the rst tidal
power array of its kind in the world.
Following on from this, we are also
planning to install up to 95 tidal tur-
bines in the Pentland Firth.
“ W e a r e d e l i g h t e d t h a t
Hammerfest Strøm has announced
that it will be constructing the rst
HS1000 turbine in Scotland. We
know that the company looked inter-
nationally to nd the right levels of
expertise to deliver this contract,
so it is a major boost to Scotland’s
renewable energy industry and to
the wider economy to see this new
technology going in to construction
in Stornoway. With our projects in
Islay and the Pentland Firth also
being developed, we hope that the
announcement today is just the
beginning of what could be a major
stream of new opportunities for
the renewables and manufacturing
industries in Scotland.”
Scotland’s First Minister Alex
Salmond, added: “I am delighted
that Scottish businesses will benet
from the next stage of the develop-
ment of one of the world’s most
advanced tidal turbines.
“With unrivalled energy resources
off our coast and a range of wave,
tidal and offshore wind develop-
ment already underway, Scotland
leads the way in generating power
offshore.
“We have an estimated 25 per-
cent of Europe’s offshore wind
and tidal resource and 10 percent
of its wave potential, a renewable
energy resource which is unrivalled
in Europe.
“Awarding £4M of contracts to
Scotland is a massive vote of con-
dence in the talent, expertise and
infrastructure we have to support
the development of a clean, green
renewables future.”
In early August it was announced
that technology group Andritz had
acquired a 33.3% stake in Norwegian
tidal power specialist Hammerfest
Strøm AS, including its Scotland-
based subsidiary Hammerfest
Strøm UK Ltd, by means of a capital
increase.
U
K RHYD R OENERGO HAS
awarded Emerson Process
Management a US$28M
contract for automation systems
to manage and control 100 turbine
generators in nine hydroelectric
power plants in Ukraine.
T h e c o n t r a c t i s p a r t o f
UkrHydroEnergo’s Hydropower
Rehabilitation Project to upgrade
and modernize the series of eight
plants that were built between 1939
and 1975 and make up the Dnieper
River energy cascade, plus the
Dnestrovskaya hydroelectric power
plant that was built in 1983 on the
Dniester River watershed. Funding is
being provided by a loan from the World
Bank to the government of Ukraine.
With a total capacity of 4639MW, the
nine plants currently provide over 90%
of Ukraine’s hydroelectric generating
capacity. Emerson’s automation tech-
nology will help UkrHydroEnergo improve
process control and enhance informa-
tion access for these plants.
Each of the nine UkrHydroEnergo
hydroelectric plants will be monitored
and controlled by an Ovation system,
while Ovation supervisory control and
data acquisition (SCADA) technology will
integrate and communicate information
from all 100 turbine generators so opera-
tors can transfer important data between
generating sites and UkrHydroEnergo
and national dispatch centers. Other
Emerson technologies for this project
include Rosemount measurement
instrumentation, CSI vibration monitor-
ing systems, and AMS Suite predictive
maintenance software.
In addition, Emerson will provide auto-
mation design, supply, installation and
related services through its local project
team in Ukraine; its hydroelectric power
automation experts in Warsaw, Poland,
and St. Petersburg, Russia; and its engi-
neering center in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
Emerson wins automation
contract for Ukraine plants
T
HE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
has formally approved construc-
tion of the Belo Monte dam in
the Amazon region, with President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva signing a contract
with the Norte Energia consortium on
26 August.
Bidding for the 11GW project – to
be built on the Xingu River in the state
of Para - was halted on several occa-
sions, until development of the project
was awarded to Norte Energia, led by
the state-owned Companhia Hidro
Eletrica do Sao Francisco, following a
legal appeal by the government.
The country’s environmental regu-
lator, Ibama, issued a preliminary
licence for the project on the Xingu
River in February this year, subject
to conditions covering issues relating
to water quality, wildlife, sanitation,
resettlement, compensation and reha-
bilitation of degraded areas.
The project has faced erce opposi-
tion from environmental groups.
Green light for
Belo Monte
WWW.WATERPOWERMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER 2010 7
WORLD NEWS
In brief
CONSTRUCTION WORK
has ofcially started on
RusHydro’s 320MW Nizhne-
Bureyskaya hydroelectric
plant on the Bureya River
in the Amur Region, 90km
downstream from the site of
the Bureya project. The plant
is part of the Unied Bureya
Energy Complex in the Amur
Region and will become the
counter-regulator of the
Bureya project, which was
commissioned at full capac-
ity in 2009. Commissioning
of the rst phase (two hydro
units with a capacity of
80MW each) is scheduled for
2014, the second phase for
2015, with the power plant
expected to reach full project
capacity in 2016.
CAVICO BRIDGE
and Tunnel, a subsidi-
ary of Vietnam’s Cavico
Corporation, has broken-
through the sub-tunnel at
the A Luoi Hydropower
project, having excavated
approximately 1950m of
tunnel from the sub-tunnel
No. 1 to sub-tunnel No.
2. The 170MW A Luoi
project, owned by the
Central Hydropower Joint
Stock Co, is being built
on the A Sap River in the
Thua Thien Hue province
in Central Vietnam. In July
2007, Cavico was awarded
a contract to excavate
a 12km long, 5m wide
headrace tunnel and four
sub-tunnels.
CALIFORNIAN UTILITY PG&E
has led a request with state
regulators for funding to
study the feasibility of build-
ing a new pumped storage
project in the Mokelumne
River watershed in Amador
County. According to a post
on the company’s website,
the study would look at a
project ranging in size from
400MW to 1200MW.
Fortis invests in Waneta expansion
F
ORTIS INC, IN PARTNER-
SHIP WITH Columbia Power
Corporation (CPC) and Columbia
Basin Trust (CBT), has announced it
intends to build a 335MW hydro-
electric facility at an estimated cost
of approximately $900M, near the
Waneta Dam and powerhouse facili-
ties on the Pend d’Oreille River, south
of Trail, British Columbia, Canada.
Subject to negotiation and com-
pletion of definitive agreements,
Fortis will own 51% of the Waneta
Expansion and will operate and
maintain the non-regulated invest-
ment when the facility comes into
service, which is expected in spring
2015. Federal and provincial envi-
ronmental assessment approvals
are in place for the project.
The Waneta Expansion will become
part of the Canal Plant Agreement
and will receive fixed energy and
capacity entitlements based upon
long-term average water ows, there-
by signicantly reducing hydrologic
risk associated with the project.
Th e e ne rg y, app ro xi ma te ly
630GWh, from the project will be
sold to BC Hydro under a long-term
energy purchase agreement at prices
comparable to those for projects
recently accepted by BC Hydro under
its 2008 Clean Power Call. The sur-
plus capacity, equal to 234MW on an
average annual basis, will, subject
to approval of the British Columbia
Utilities Commission (BCUC), be sold
to FortisBC Inc. under a long-term
capacity purchase agreement at a
price within the range of alternatives
outlined in FortisBC’s Resource Plan
led with the BCUC in May 2009.
“Fortis is excited about this oppor-
tunity to grow our non-regulated
hydroelectric generation business in
British Columbia, where we have well-
established regulated utility opera-
tions at FortisBC and Terasen Gas,”
said Stan Marshall, President and
Chief Executive Ofcer, Fortis Inc.
“The Waneta Expansion will sub-
stantially resolve capacity shortfall
issues for FortisBC and will enable
FortisBC to serve its customers with
long-term, reliable electricity from a
renewable resource.”
A
NEW TRANSMISSION LINK
commissioned in China sets
a new benchmark in voltage
levels and transmission capacity,
says ABB.
The Swiss firm has put the
Xiangjiaba-Shanghai project, the
world’s rst ultrahigh voltage direct
current (UHVDC) transmission link,
into operation and says that it built
the line in 30 months - one year
ahead of schedule.
The ±800 kV link has the capacity
to transmit up to 7200MW of power
from the Xiangjiaba hydropower plant
in southwest China to Shanghai some
2000km away. ABB was the main
technology supplier to State Grid
Corporation of China in the project.
“800kV UHVDC will play an impor-
tant role in providing China with access
to remote renewable energy, a key
focus area for us,” said Zheng Baosen,
Executive Vice President, SGCC. “We
are extremely pleased with the support
and co-operation of ABB and the local
Chinese suppliers during the execution
of this project which enabled its com-
pletion in record time.”
The high-capacity power link con-
sists of a single overhead line and
occupies less space than the existing
500kV system. Transmission losses
on the new line are under seven per
cent, representing a saving equiva-
lent to the power needs of around
one million people in China.
ABB was responsible for overall
system design and supplied the
main equipment for the project. The
scope of delivery included 28 high-
and ultrahigh-voltage converter trans-
formers, ten of which were delivered
from Sweden and the rest manufac-
tured locally with ABB components
and technology.
Other key products delivered
include thyristor valves, DC and AC
switchyard equipment and the newly
developed DCC800 HVDC control
system.
ABB commissions record breaking UHVDC link
Modernisation work to boost ouput
and extend life of Cheoah Dam, US
W
ORK HAS STARTED ON
A $110M modernization
project at Cheoah Dam, one
of four hydroelectric dams that make
up Alcoa Power Generating Inc.’s
Tapoco Project. The modernization
effort – which includes the replace-
ment of four 90-year-old Francis tur-
bines – will increase the dam’s energy
output by 22MW and extend the life of
the dam by approximately 50 years.
The modernisation project is
being part nanced by a US$12.95M
grant awarded to Alcoa by the
US Department of Energy under
the 2009 American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act.
The rst phase of the moderniza-
tion project will include the upgrade
of two of the dam’s five power
generation units. Specically, rst
phase objectives for the project are
to purchase four new high-efciency
turbines, generators, and transform-
ers, upgrade the balance of plant
equipment, and complete installa-
tion of two units.
Another two units will be upgraded
during phase two of the project and
will increase Cheoah’s total capacity
to 140MW and add 40 to 50 years
of expected useful life to the facility
without requiring any modications
to the dam and without any signi-
cant regulatory delay.
In total the site has ve units. Unit
5 was built in 1949 and the genera-
tor was rebuilt in 1995. Unit 5 is
a 30MW unit and does not require
replacement.
The modernization follows the
recent relicensing of the Tapoco
project by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission. The new
40-year license was effective March
1, 2005 and outlines protection,
mitigation, and enhancement meas-
ures for the Project that address
ecological resources as well as other
benecial uses of the Cheoah and
Little Tennessee Rivers, including
hydropower generation, watershed
protection, endangered species
enhancement, sh passage and rec-
reational opportunities.
Construction began on Cheoah
Dam in 1916 and was completed
in 1919. At the time of completion,
Cheoah was the world’s highest
overow dam at 225ft.
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Let IWP&DC’s readers know about your forthcoming conferences and events.
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DIARY OF EVENTS
10 SEPTEMBER 2010 INTERNATIONAL WATER POWER & DAM CONSTRUCTION
DIARY
October
3-7 October
Canadian Dam Association 2010
Annual Conference
Niagara Falls, Canada
CONTACT: CDA, PO Box 2281,
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada,
S6H 7W6.
www.cda.ca/2010conference.
13-14 October
British Hydropower Association
Annual Conference 2010
Glasgow, UK
CONTACT: Ellan Long, British
Hydropower Association, Unit 6B
Manor Farm Business Centre, Gussage
St Michael, Dorset, BH21 5HT UK
Tel: + 44 (0)1258 840934.
Email: info@british-hydro.org.
www.british-hydro.org.
17-22 October
14th Hydro Power Engineering
Exchange 2010
Snowy Mountains, Australia
CONTACT: Snowy Hydro, Level 37,
AMP Centre, 50 Bridge Street, Sydney,
NSW 2000, Australia.
Email: hpee@snowyhydro.com.au.
18-21 October
Rotordynamics and Bearings
Technologies
Cologne, Germany
CONTACT: ARLA Maschinentechnik
GmbH, Hansestr 2, D-51688
Wipperfuerth, Germany.
www.arla.de.
19-21 October
European Future Energy Forum
London, UK
CONTACT: Turret Middle East,
ADNEC House, PO Box 94891, Abu
Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
www.europeanfutureenergyforum.
com
25-29 October
Risk Management in Hydropower
Development
Trondheim, Norway
CONTACT: International Centre
for Hydropower (ICH), Klaebuveien
153, N-7465 Trondheim, Norway.
Tel: +47 73 59 0780.
Email: mail@ich.no.
www.ich.no.
November
2-3 November
Forum on Hydropower 2010
Ontario, Canada
CONTACT: Canadian Hydropower
Association.
Tel: +1 613 751 6655.
Email: info@can-hydropower.org.
www.can-hydropower.org.
2-4 November
Renewable Energy World Asia
Singapore
CONTACT: Amy Nash, Conference
Manager, PennWell Publishing UK,
Warlies Park House, Horseshoe Hill,
Upshire, Essex EN9 3SR, UK.
Tel: +44 1992 656621.
Fax: +44 1992656735.
Email: amyn@pennwell.com.
www.renewableenergyworld-asia.
com.
2-5 November
Hydro 2010
Rostock-Warnemunde, Germany
CONTACT: DHyG, c/o Sabine
Muller, Schutower Ringstr 4,
D-18069 Rostock, Germany.
Email: info@hydro2010.com.
16-17 November
Flood Management 2010
London, UK
CONTACT: Flood Management
Conference Registration,
Emap Networks, First Floor,
Greater London House,
Hampstead Road, London,
NW1 7EJ.
Tel: +44 0845 056 8069.
Fax: +44 20 7728 5299.
constructconferences@emap.com.
www.nceoodmanagement.com
24-26 November
16th International Conference on
Hydropower Plants
Vienna, Austria
CONTACT: Dr. Eduard Doujak,
Institute for Waterpower and
Pumps, Karlsplatz 13/305, Vienna
Austria, A-1040.
eduard.doujak@tuwien.ac.at.
www.viennahydro.com.
25-27 November
RENEXPO Austria
Salzburg, Austria
CONTACT: REECO Austria
Gmbh, Josef-Schwer-Gasse 9, A -
5020 Salzburg, Austria.
Tel: +43 (0) 662 8226 - 3.
www.renexpo-austria.at
26-28 November
Workshop on Optimization of
Construction Method for CFRDs
Yichang, China
CONTACT: HydrOu China, No.
41-210 Three Gorges Community,
Zhenping Road, Yichang city, Hubei
443002, China
Tel: +86717 672-1379
Fax: +86717 672-1379
Email: mail.chenqian@gmail.com
http://www.hydrou.com/index.
php?option=com_content&task=vi
ew&id=166&Itemid=1.
December
6-7 December
Small Hydropower USA 2010
Washington DC, US
CONTACT: G r e e n P o w er
Conferences, London, UK.
Tel: +44 20 7099 0600.
Email: info@greenpowerconfer-
ences.com.
www.greenpowerconferences.com
14-16 December
Power-Gen International
Orlando, Florida, US
CONTACT: Jan Simpson, Power-
Gen International, UK.
Tel: +1 918 831 9736.
Fax: +1 918 831 9875.
pgiconference@pennwell.com.
www.power-gen.com.
January 2011
18-21 January
World Future Energy Summit
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
CONTACT: Reed Exhibitions FZ
LLC, PO Box 60799, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates.
Tel: +9712 444 6113.
Fax: +9712 444 3768.
Email: ara.fernezian@reedexpo.ae.
www.worldfutureenergysummit.
com.
February 2011
15-17 February
6th International Conference on
Dam Engineering
Lisbon, Portugal
CONTACT: Eliane Portela , LNEC,
Concrete Dams Department,
LNEC, Av. Brasil 101, 1700-066,
Lisbon, Portugal.
Tel: (351) 218443361.
Fax: (351) 218443026.
Email: eliane@lnec.pt.
http://dam11.lnec.pt.
22-24 February
Underwater Intervention 2011
New Orleans, LA, US
C O N T A C T : U n d e r w a t e r
Intervention 2011 Committee ,
5206 FM 1960 West, Suite 202
Houston, TX 77069 USA.
Tel: +1 281-893-8539.
Fax +1 281-893-511.
Email: rroberts@adc-int.org.
www.underwaterintervention.com.
March 2011
15-16 March
Case Studies Workshop: Learning
from International Dam Incidents
and Failures
Las Vegas, Nevada, US
CONTACT:
CEAT I Interna tional, 1010
Sherbrooke St W, Suite 2500,
Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 2R7.
Email: workshops@ceati.com.
www.ceati.com/Meetings/DS2011/
index.html.
28-30 March
HydroVision Russia
Moscow, Russia
CONTACT: Mathilde Sueur,
Conference Manager, PennWell.
Tel: +44 1992 656 634.
Fax: +44 1992 656 735.
E: mathildes@pennwell.com.
www.hydrovision-russia.com.