Africa
Hydro Project Activity: Kupinga small hydro plant begins generation in Zimbabwe
The 1.6-MW Kupinga small hydropower station is now generating on the Rusitu River in Manicaland province of eastern Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority issued a 25-year operating license for the hydro project in 2014. The Kupinga station is connected to the grid and currently operating at a capacity of 1.4 MW and is expected to reach full capacity by the end of this year.
Old Mutual, a Zimbabwe-based financial group, says it is funding about US$5.7 million for the project by joint venture company Kupinga Renewable Energy Private Ltd.
“Apart from feeding into the national grid, the establishment of the plant has created employment for people in the area,” said Chipinge Rural District Council Chairpoerson Phenious Muzamana.
Latin America
Hydro Project Activity: Peru’s 750-MW Rio Grande hydropower facility on hold
Odebrecht Energia del Peru has pulled a proposal for the 750-MW Rio Grande project from Peru’s General Directorate of Energy and Environmental Affairs
A notice from Direccion General de Asuntos Ambientales Energia shows Odebrecht requested the enviromental impact statement filed for the plant to be removed, effectively stopping the project. Neither Odebrecht nor DGAAE have offered reasons why the proposal has been tabled, or if the project will be resumed, although DGAAE asked Odebrecht to repond to nearly 150 comments on its environmental assessment earlier this year.
If constructed, Rio Grande would consist of two plants – 600-MW Rio Grande 1 and 150-MW Rio Grande 2 – both of which would be located on the Maranon River in northern Peru. The facilities would have a combined price tag exceeding US$2 billion.
Europe
Hydro Project Activity: GE contracted for 344-MW Kokhav Hayarden pumped storage in Israel
GE Renewable Energy has received a turnkey contract from Star Pumped Storage Ltd. for the 344-MW Kokhav Hayarden pumped storage station in Israel. GE will design, manufacture, supply and install all electromechanical and hydromechanical equipment, as well as complete balance of plant for the two 172-MW units.
The project will be executed by a consortium led by SinoHydro in China, and GE also signed a 20-year operation and maintenance agreement for the plant.
Development of the Kokhav Hayarden project is expected to last 52 months, with commissioning scheduled for 2021.
“Hydro pumped storage enables the integration of new renewable and intermittent energies to the grid,” said Yves Rannou, president and chief executive officer of GE’s Hydro Solutions. “In Israel, where solar energy is booming, hydro pumped storage plants are critical to securing the stability of the grid.”
North America
More Canadian hydro imports could be coming to U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a final environmental impact statement for the proposed Northern Pass transmission line, calling it the “preferred alternative” for connecting the northeastern U.S. to Canadian hydroelectric power.
Opponents of the controversial line argue it will have a negative impact on property values, the environment and the region’s burgeoning eco-tourism industry. However, project developer Northern Pass LLC says the 192-mile-long transmission line will allow New Hampshire and the New England region to tap into 1,090 MW of Hydro-Quebec power, lowering what are, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, utility rates more than 50% higher than the national average.
DOE’s report, prepared under terms of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, lists a number of positives for the region, including a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 9% per year, the creation of nearly 6,750 jobs during construction and more than 900 permanent jobs, more than 30 million in economic stimulus through the project’s construction, and an increase of nearly $40 million in statewide property taxes in New Hampshire upon completion.
Asia/Oceania
Hydro Project Activity: Armenian government approves agreement to build 76-MW Snhokh
The government of Armenia has approved an agreement related to construction of the 76-MW Shnokh hydro plant on the Debed River in the province of Lori. The project cost is estimated at $150 million and construction of the facility is “part of a strategy to ensure energy security of the nation.”
The Shnokh project (formerly also known as Shnogh), is to be built with public and private funding. The Investors Club of Armenia, a non-public contractual investment fund founded in January 2017, is involved with the project and says it will have a construction period of three years and a payback period of 13 years with an internal rate of return of 7.26%.
Shnokh is expected to generate 300 million kWh of electricity annually. This plant has been under investigation for some time, with HydroWorld reporting in 2008 that Armenia was inviting expressions of interest from consultants to perform a feasibility study of the project, then with a capacity of 70 MW.
Editor’s Note: This department features the biggest news item from each world region. Up-to-the-minute news on the global hydro market is available on the World Regions page at www.hydroworld.com/world-regions.html.
