The editors of Hydro Review and HRW-Hydro Review Worldwide magazines congratulate the winners in the 2013 Hydro Projects of the Year awards program, presented this past week during HydroVision Brasil in Sao Paulo.
Honors were presented to nominees from around the world in four categories, including environmental sustainability, new development, project refurbishment and modernization, and small hydropower.
The 2013 Hydro Projects of the Year winners include:
Environmental Sustainability — Ahanguera Hydroelectric Power Station
Developed and owned by a private company called Central Electrica Anhanguera, the 22.5-MW run-of-river Anhanguera Hydro Power Project is located on the Sapucai River near Sao Carlos, Brazil.
The project has three generating units fitted with Kaplan turbines. The plant exports 105,032 MWh/year to the local grid. The reservoir the project utilizes is 2.05 km2.
Estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 16,284 metric tonnes annually.
In order to encourage sustainability and job creation, Volkswagen invested in the project in 2008, and recruited primarily “local workers, unemployed people, and school leavers for the project, and then trained them for each of the specific roles” to improve the future of those in the area.
A 5,870 green belt was created along an artificial lake as part of the project to provide a location for the local flora and fauna to thrive uninterrupted.
The successful completion of the project prompted VW to undertake an additional project nearby to be completed in 2013.
The award was accepted on behalf of CELAN by Marcelo Renault.
New Development — Jirau Hydropower Plant
The 3,750-MW Jirau hydropower plant earned the distinction of being the world’s largest renewable project registered as a “Clean Development Mechanism” by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in June.
The plant — located on Brazil’s Madeira River — was also the subject of a sustainability report conducted by the International Hydropower Association in May.
Energia Sustentà¡vel do Brasil (ESBR), the special purpose company formed by GDF SUEZ, Chesf and Eletrosul, is responsible for the implementation of Jirau.
The project’s first turbine began operating earlier this month after ANEEL gave the go-ahead, marking Jirau’s entry into commercial operation.
The award was accepted on behalf of GDF Suez by Dieter Herweg, Director of Themag.
Project Refurbishment and Modernization — Ilha Solteira Hydropower Project
Voith Hydro modernizations of the Ilha Solteira project are nearly complete, giving 3,444 MW plant more flexibility in its ability to provide reactive power to Brazil’s grid.
As part of the modernization project, Voith serviced four of Ilha Solteira’s 20 generators, supplied new windings, stator cores, pole coils and one new stator frame, in addition to renovating the other three existing frames. Boith also renovated rotor poles and supplied a partial discharge detection system.
Completed in 1973, Ilha Solteira is owned by CESP and located on the Parana River in Sao Paulo state.
The award was accepted on behalf of Voith Hydro Ltda. by Werner Lacher, and by Paulo Roberto Dias Oda on behalf of CESP.
Small Hydro — Centro Nacional de Referéncia em Pequenas Centrais Hidrelétricas (CERPCH)
CERPCH was created in 1998 through an agreement among governmental institutions, universities and energy-centered organizations.
The focus of this center is disseminating information and technology related to small hydropower plants through information networks, project support, research, and scientific and technological development.
The center performs work in the areas of communication, project support, and social and environmental responsibility. CERPCH also acts as an interface between the entrepreneur seeking new business opportunities in the energy market and the infestor looking for attractive financial returns resulting from the construction and use of small hydropower plants.
The center, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary, is located at the Federal University of Engineering at Itajuba (UNIFEI).
The center publishes a magazine, called Hidro & Hydro (formerly PCH Noticias & SHP News), and holds an annual event called the SHP Market & Environment Conference.
Accepting on behalf of CERPCH were Geraldo Lucio Tiago and Adriana Barbosa, and Paulo Waki on behalf of UNIFEI.
