HRW 20090701 Jul 2009

OUTLOOK: HYDRO IN EUROPE 24
TACKLING GEOTECH CHALLENGES

IN THE HIMALAYAS 26
SMALL HYDRO DEVELOPMENT 35
UTLOOK: HYDRO IN EUROPE OU 24
TACKLING GEOTECH CHALLENGES
IN THE HIMALAYAS 26
SMALL HYDRO DEVELOPMENT 35
www.hydroworld.com
Connecting The Worldwide Hydro Community July 2009
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www.hydroworld.com July 2009 / HRW 1
JULY 2009
WIND-HYDRO INTEGRATION
ARTICLES
24 Hydropower in Europe:
Current Status, Future Opportunities
By Marla J. Barnes
For hydro, the European Unions current push to increase use of renewables translates to
signifcant growth in the development of new capacity and in upgrading of existing facilities.
26 Project Development in the Himalayas:
Solving Geotechnical Challenges
By Imran Sayeed
During hydro project construction in the Himalayas, Indian
utility NHPC Limited has faced multiple geotechnical challenges.
To overcome these, the company has implemented a number
of solutions, including providing adequate reinforcement for
rock slopes and choosing tunneling practices to best deal with
the rock conditions.
DEPARTMENTS
ADVISORY BOARD
H. Irfan Aker
Dolsar Engineering
Limited, Turkey
Ian M. Cook
ICCL, United
Kingdom
Chris Head
Chris Head & Associates
United Kingdom
Leonard B. Kassana
East African Tea
Trade Association
Kenya
Peter Thomas Mulvihill
Pioneer Generation, Ltd.
New Zealand
Raghunath Gopal
(R.G.) Vartak
AFCONS Infrastructure
Limited, India
Emmanuel
Antwi-Darkwa
Volta River Authority
Ghana
Arturo Gil
Garcia
Iberdrola
Generation
Spain
Liu Heng
International Network on
Small Hydropower
(IN-SHP), People's
Republic of China
Carlos Alberto Knakiewicz
Itaipu Binacional
Brazil
Montri Suwanmontri, PhD
Dr. Montris & Associates
Thailand
Luis C. Vintimilla
Consulting Engineer
Ecuador
Zhang Boting
Chinese Society for
Hydropower Engineering
People's Republic of
China
Roger Gill
Hydro Focus
Pty. Ltd.
Australia
Zhang Jinsheng
China Yangtze
Three Gorges Project
People's Republic of
China
Dr. Terry Moss
Eskom Generation
South Africa
C.V.J. Varma
Council of Power Utilities
and The Dams Society
India
James Yang, PhD
Vattenfall Research
and Development AB
Sweden
2 Viewpoint:
Hydro and Wind Power
4 Briengs
34 New Hydro
35 Small Hydro
40 Index to Advertisers
12 Pumped Storage
Supports Wind Energy
By Fernando Pern Montero
and Juan J. Prez
Spanish utility Iberdrola is
building the 852-MW La Muela 2
pumped-storage plant to help frm
the variability of its more than
4,200 MW of wind capacity.
26
12
Peer Reviewed
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In the world of renewable energy, news from 2008 includes the fact of wind pow-
ers continued rapid growth. Wind added 29 GW during the year. Hydropower
also added capacity in this same range 25 to 30 GW.
In four years, worldwide wind capacity has grown by a factor of 2.5 times,
from 48 GW in 2004 to 121 GW in 2008 an annual growth rate of 26%. This
is higher than the growth rate of any other electricity source. Three countries
Germany, Spain, and the United States now host more than half of the worlds
wind capacity. And China and India, in 4th and 5th place, are both adding wind
power at a terrifc pace.
Hydropower facility owners, operators, and developers need not worry about
hydro being displaced by wind power, or by other new renewable energies or any
other power source. The world needs all the electricity it can get especially
renewable energy. And, where hydro projects are feasible, they deliver solid value.
Hydro often is a low-cost source of electricity that provides long-term support for
regional economies. Moreover, the long life, reliability, and durability of hydro
projects often provide a bonus. Many types of power projects, including wind
projects, will not endure beyond a 20- or 30-year life. Yet, after 30 years, the
typical hydro project has hardly reached the middle of its life.
Because the worldwide installation rates of wind and hydro are about the same,
gigawatt per gigawatt, it could seem fortuitous that new hydro could balance
the intermittency of new wind installations. Indeed, among the top fve wind-
power countries, Spain, China, and India are rapidly adding hydro, and these ad-
ditions aid them in successfully integrating wind power into their electricity grids.
Other countries are not so lucky. Ireland, for example, is adding wind power and
is experiencing integration challenges. Within Ireland and many other countries,
the opportunities for using hydro to support integration are limited.
We cannot get too much hydro and wind power. To put energy needs in per-
spective, what if all of the new demands for electricity in the past ten years had
been provided from hydro and wind (or other renewables)? (And please keep
in mind that electricity provides but a fraction of total energy supplies.) Over
the decade, the 40% addition to total electricity generation added about 6,000
terawatt-hours of energy per year. To supply this much electricity from hydro
and wind power additions would have required total annual capacity additions
totaling 150 to 200 GW or, about three times as much as was installed in 2008,
a banner year. While these levels of addition may not be beyond possibility, they
are defnitely a far stretch from where we are today. Its hard to imagine getting
enough of either hydro or wind!
Editor Emeritus
2 HRW / July 2009 www.hydroworld.com
Vi e wp o i nt
Hydro and Wind Power
Vol. 17, No. 3, July 2009
1421 South Sheridan Road
Tulsa, OK 74112
P.O. Box 1260, Tulsa, OK 74101
Telephone: (918) 835-3161
Fax: (918) 831-9834
E-mail: hydroreview@pennwell.com
World Wide Web: http://www.hydroworld.com
PUBLISHER AND CHIEF EDITOR Marla Barnes
(816) 931-1311, ext.106 marlab@pennwell.com
SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR John Braden
(816) 931-1311, ext.123 johnb@pennwell.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Elizabeth Ingram
(816) 931-1311, ext.125 elizabethi@pennwell.com
PRESENTATION EDITOR Kermit Mulkins
(918) 831-9554 kermitm@pennwell.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR James L. Gordon, BSc
CONSULTANTS/ADVISORS Leslie Eden and Carl Vansant
SUBSCRIBER SERVICE
P.O. Box 3264, Northbrook, IL 60065-3264
Customer Service: 847-559-7330
Fax: 847-291-4816
Email: hrw@omeda.com
MARKETING MANAGER Ashley Wood
(918) 832-9326 ashleyw@pennwell.com
GROUP PUBLISHER, NORTH AMERICAN RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP
Dick Rauner (918) 832-9249 dickr@pennwell.com
SR. VP, POWER GENERATION Richard G. Baker
(918) 831-9187 richardb@pennwell.com
SALES DIRECTOR Howard Lutzk
(816) 931-1311, ext.109 howardl@pennwell.com
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS PennWell Corp.
1421 S. Sheridan Road, Tulsa, OK 74112
Telephone: (918) 835-3161
CHAIRMAN Frank T. Lauinger
PRESIDENT/CEO Robert F. Biolchini
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Mark C. Wilmoth
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Emily Martha Martin
SR. VP, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT & BOOK PUBLISHING Gloria Adams
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PRODUCTION MANAGER Dorothy Davis
HRW (ISSN 1072-9542) is published six times in March, May, July, Sep-
tember, October, and December by PennWell Corp., 1421 S. Sheridan Rd.,
Tulsa, OK 74112; phone (918) 835-3161. Printed in U.S.A. Canadian GST
Registration Number 12681 3153 RT0001. Canada Post International
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4 HRW/ July 2009 www.hydroworld.com
PennWell names Barnes publisher of Hydro Group
PennWell Corporation has named Marla Barnes publisher of its Hy-
dropower magazines and events, including Hydro Review and HRW
magazines, the HydroVision and Waterpower conferences and exhibi-
tions, and the electronic news service HydroWorld.com.
At the same time, Dick Rauner was named publisher of PennWells
North American Renewable Energy Group, of which the Hydro-
power businesses are a part, along with the Renewable Energy World
North America Conference and Exhibition and the newly announced
Renewable Energy World North America magazine.
Barnes previously was chief editor of the hydropower publications, which PennWell
acquired in December 2008 from Kansas City, Mo.-based HCI Publications Inc. She
has 20 years experience as an editor and conference organizer in the hydroelectric power
industry. She is relocating from Kansas City to PennWells headquarters in Tulsa, Okla.
Rauner built Renewable Energy World North America conference
Rauner previously was exhibit and sponsorship sales manager for PennWells Renew-
able Energy World North America conference and exhibition. He grew the show from
its inception six years ago to its current position as the leading all-renewables confer-
ence and exhibition in North America.
Barnes will report to Rauner, who will continue to report to Richard G. Baker, senior
vice president, North America Power Group.
With Dick Rauner as group publisher and Marla Barnes as publisher, PennWell
further strengthens its industry-leading North American Power Group to effectively
direct our rapidly growing renewable energy businesses, PennWell President and CEO
Robert F. Biolchini said.
Variable-speed pumped storage for Swiss
A partnership of a Swiss utility and a federal railway awarded a 125 million euro
(US$167 million) contract to Alstom to supply the 628-MW Nant de Drance hydro-
electric project its frst variable-speed pumped-storage power plant.
Swiss energy provider Alpiq, Forces Motrices Valaisannes, and Swiss federal railway
SBB are building the 990 million franc (US$950 million) pumped-storage project at
Finhaut in the Swiss Alps.
Alstom said it is to supply four 157-MW vertical Francis reversible turbines, four
170-megavolt-ampere vertical asynchronous motor-generators, and other key equip-
ment to the new plant. Alstom said the new installation integrates two state-of-the-art
technologies, a conventional pump-turbine and a variable-speed pump-turbine.
The conventional unit pumps water into an upper reservoir during low energy
Briey
Communaute Electrique du
Benin (CEB) commissioned
Chinese hydropower construc-
tion company SinoHydro to
build the 147-MW Adjarala
hydroelectric project between
Togo and Benin on Africas
Mono River. Work on the 282
million euro (US$389 million)
project is to be completed in 45
months.
Bolivia President Evo Mo-
rales signed a contract with
Italian-led consortium Consor-
cio Hidroelectrico Misicuni for
construction of the 120-meter-
tall Misicuni Dam multipur-
pose project. The consortium
is led with 51 percent owner-
ship by Grandi Lavori Fincosit
S.p.A. of Italy. Bolivias Em-
presa Nacional de Electricidad
and South Koreas Korea Elec-
tric Power Corp. have agreed to
build a 120-MW hydro plant at
Misicuni.
Empresa de Generacion
Electrica Machupicchu S.A.
(Egemsa) awarded a contract
to Grana y Montero of Peru
to rehabilitate and expand the
107-MW Machu Picchu hydro-
electric project in Perus Cusco
Region to 206 MW. Grana y
Montero, the sole bidder, of-
fered a bid of US$148 million.
Rehabilitation of Machu Picchu
is required due to food damage
in February 1998.
Turkish construction com-
pany Dogus Insaat awarded a
contract to Continental Manu-
facturing Co. (MARCO) of the
United States to supply engi-
neered conveyor systems for the
528-MW Boyabat hydroelectric
project on the Kizilirmak River
in Turkeys Sinop Province.
MARCO said it is to supply
conveyor systems to transport
and place concrete during con-
struction of Boyabats 95-me-
ter-tall concrete gravity dam.
Boyabat Elektrik Uretim ve
Tic Ltd. Sti. was granted per-
mission in 2007 to operate the
project for 49 years.
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demand and releases it to produce energy during peak times. The variable-speed unit
regulates the level of the energy it consumes, contributing to better grid regulation.
The manufacturer said conventional pump-turbines only can operate on a fxed quan-
tity of energy, while variable-speed units can regulate the level of energy they comsume.
As a result the variable unit continues to function even at lower energy levels, assuring a
steady reflling of the reservoir while contributing to stabilization of the network.
World Bank outlines sustainable hydro priorities
Acknowledging a sharp change in direction from the 1990s, the World Bank is em-
phasizing a growing role for sustainable hydropower to bring both energy and water
resources benefts to the developing world.
In Directions in Hydropower, a newly issued exposition of the World Bank
Groups views on the value of hydropower, the bank said hydropower now is viewed
as an integral factor in addressing energy security, climate change, water security,
and regional cooperation.
World Bank lending for hydropower bottomed out in 1999 due to growing opposition
from environmental and other non-governmental organizations.
There are risks inherent in development and operation of hydropower, many of
which were the focus of passionate debate in the 1990s, the bank said.
Three bottom lines: social, environmental, economic
As a consequence, the bank said, the defnition of acceptable hydropower has shifted
to one that recognizes core principles of sustainable development with attention to so-
cial and environmental, as well as economic bottom lines. It said the shift has been
supported by a decade of better understanding and of developing best practices, safe-
guards, and self-assessment measures from players including the World Bank, Equator
Banks, International Hydropower Association, International Energy Agency, the World
Commission on Dams, and the United Nations Environment Program.
New lending for hydropower increased signifcantly, from less than US$250 million
per year from 2002-2004, to US$500 million per year from 2005-2007. In fscal year
2008, new lending for hydro exceeded US$1 billion. The bank said 67 hydropower
projects have been approved since fscal year 2003, amounting to US$3.7 billion in
World Bank Group contributions to support a total of US$8.5 billion and nearly 9,700
MW in project investments.
MagEnergy nishing unit rehab at DR Congos 1,424-MW Inga 2
Canadian magnesium producer MagIndustries Corp. reports its MagEnergy Inc. sub-
sidiary has nearly completed refurbishment of a 168-MW generating unit of the 1,424-
MW Inga 2 hydroelectric project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
MagEnergy has been performing Phase 1 rehab of the project on the Congo River,
including emergency repairs to several turbines and refurbishment of the previously
non-functioning 168-MW turbine. In a statement of year-end results, MagIndustries
said MagEnergy has completed about 90 percent of the work necessary to refurbish
turbine G23, the frst contract at Inga 2.
MagEnergy is close to completing its initial Phase 1 refurbishment project and the
Firm tapped for
Ecuadors 1,500-
MW Coca Codo
Sinclair
Developer Coca Codo Sinclair
S.A. signed a letter of intent with
Chinese consortium SinoHydro-
Andes JV to complete negotia-
tions for a contract to build the
1,500-MW Coca Codo Sinclair
hydroelectric project on Ecua-
dors Coca River.
SinoHydro-Andes and anoth-
er Chinese group had submitted
bids in March to fnance 85 per-
cent of the project and to build it
in Napo Province. Upon comple-
tion, expected in 2014, the US$2
billion, 10-unit project is to use
water from the Coca River near
the Colombia border.
Coca Codo Sinclair S.A.
is a joint venture of Compania
de Generacion Termoelectrica
Pichincha S.A. (Termopichin-
cha) of Ecuador and Energia
Argentina S.A. (Enarsa) of
Argentina.
Business News Americas
said the letter of intent envi-
sions achieving technical, eco-
nomic, and legal pre-contract
agreements as well as seeking
project fnancing by Chinas
Export-Import Bank.
Andritz to add
38.5-MW unit to
105-MW Iffezheim
Project operator Rheinkraftwerk
Iffezheim GmbH awarded a con-
tract to Andritz Hydro to supply
electro-mechanical equipment
for a new Unit 5, expanding the
105-MW Iffezheim hydroelec-
tric project on the Rhine River.
German utility EnBW,
which jointly owns Rheink-
raftwerk Iffezheim with Elec-
tricite de France, had issued sev-
eral solicitations seeking various
equipment to expand Iffezheim.
Andritz said April 29 the 25
million euro (US$33.3 million)
order calls for a new 38.5-MW
bulb-type turbine-generator
with a 6.8-meter-diameter run-
ner. When work is complete in
2011, the unit would increase
Iffezheim to 143.5 MW, mak-
ing it the largest hydropower
plant on the Rhine.
The new unit is to increase
total project annual generation
to 860 million kilowatt-hours
from 740 million kWh.
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sale of the energy generated from that project will make a solid contribution to the com-
panys results, MagIndustries said. Revenues from the sale of 84 MW, representing 50
percent of the fully restored 168-MW capacity, will potentially be generated by late 2009.
In February 2008, DRC Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga endorsed a proposal by
MagEnergy to perform Phase 2 rehabilitation of Inga 2. The estimated US$110 million
Phase 2 program would rehabilitate an additional four turbines at eight-unit Inga 2, to
restore them to operation over fve years.
Costa Rica approves hydro project concession law
President Oscar Arias signed a new law ensuring the participation of private companies
in the development of hydropower projects in Costa Rica.
Arias signed the framework law on concessions for the utilization of hydropower dur-
ing an April meeting of Costa Ricas governing council. The measure previously was
approved by Costa Ricas assembly.
The presidents offce said the law ensures the participation of private enterprise in hy-
dropower generation and provides the Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Telecom-
munications the power to grant concessions up to 25 years. The agency also may extend
concessions for another 25 years if developers comply with ministry requirements.
The new law flls a loophole created by legislation in the 1990s that transformed Costa
Ricas previous concession authority, the National Electricity Authority, into utility reg-
ulator Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Publicos (Aresep). At that time, the legisla-
tion failed to establish a new agency to continue to award hydropower concessions.
Yangtze Power takes on more of 22,400-MW Three Gorges
Chinas Yangtze Power Co., operator of 22,400-MW Three Gorges Dam, is carrying
out a 107.5 billion renminbi (US$15.76 billion) restructuring plan that includes acquir-
ing full ownership of the projects 26 operating units, totaling 18,200 MW.
Yangtze Power said it would issue 1.55 billion shares to its parent, China Three
Gorges Project Corp., in a private placement for 12.89 renminbi (US$1.88) each, rais-
ing 20 billion renminbi (US$2.9 billion), and pay 37.5 billion renminbi (US$5.5 bil-
lion) in cash to acquire assets from China Three Gorges. It also is to take on 50 billion
renminbi (US$7.3 billion) in debt.
The assets being acquired include the remaining 18 generating units of the original
26-unit Three Gorges project that Yangtze Power does not already own. The acquisi-
tion is to more than double Yangtze Powers installed capacity and is to increase its
2009 net proft to 6.3 billion renminbi (US$922 million) from last years 3.93 billion
renminbi (US$575 million).
The plan for Three Gorges originally called for 26 generators, 14 on the left bank of the
Yangtze River and 12 on the right for a total of 18,200 MW. The project has since been ex-
panded further, with another six turbines being added by 2012 for a total of 22,400 MW.
Asian bank rates Mekong energy aid
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) rates as successful its aid program to the en-
ergy sector in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) of Southeast Asia, including as-
sistance to major hydroelectric projects in the region.
China bank to
nance 1,500-MW
Mphanda Nkuwa
The Export-Import Bank of Chi-
na agreed to fnance construc-
tion of the 1,500-MW Mphanda
Nkuwa hydroelectrict project on
Mozambiques Zambezi River.
Mozambiques O Pais news-
paper quoted Energy Minister
Salvador Namburete saying
construction of the US$2 bil-
lion dam is to begin in 2010
in the northern Tete Prov-
ince. The China Exim banks
US$2.3 billion loan package
also includes funding a trans-
mission line from the dam site
to Maputo, the capital.
A detailed proposal for con-
struction of Mphanda Nkuwa
boosted the capacity of the pro-
posed project to 1,500 MW from
1,300 MW in 2007. Additional-
ly, the project is seen potentially
expanding to 2,400 MW.
We expect the process to
be fnalized by December this
year and construction should
begin between April and May
next year, Namburete said.
The project is being devel-
oped by Brazil construction
frm Camargo Correa, national
utility Electricidade de Mocam-
bique, and Energia Capital.
Alstom to
revamp more units
of 10,300-MW
Simon Bolivar
Venezuela utility CVG Elec-
trifcacion del Caroni (Edelca)
has awarded a 31 million euro
(US$41.4 million) contract to
Alstom Hydro for refurbish-
ment of fve generators of the
10,300-MW Simon Bolivar
hydroelectric project on Ven-
ezuelas Caroni River.
The contract is the fourth
awarded to Alstom by Edelca
and is part of a complete mod-
ernization program to extend
the projects life by 30 years.
In 2007, Alstom received an 80
million euro (US$107 million)
contract for refurbishment of
four turbine-generators.
In the latest contract, Al-
stom is to refurbish fve 630-
MW generators in powerhouse
2, including rehabilitation of
stators and rotors and the sup-
ply of auxiliaries.
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ADB issued an assessment of its aid to the energy sector program of the GMS,
which includes Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and provinces in
southeastern China.
The evaluation found that ADBs GMS energy program has resulted in signifcant
economic benefts to the participating countries, ADB said. An important apparent
beneft of the GMS energy program has been the demonstration effect. There is clear
evidence that investor confdence in undertaking power export projects in the region
has risen strongly in recent years.
The bank said total energy investment costs under the GMS program are US$1.7 bil-
lion, 17 percent of the total GMS project costs of US$10.3 billion. It said, to date, ADB has
provided US$185.4 million additional and concessionary assistance for the GMS energy
sector, of which 95 percent is loans and the remainder is technical assistance grants.
Three of the loans fnanced construction of hydropower projects in Laos aimed at
exporting power to Thailand. They include 60-MW Nam Leuk; 210-MW Theun-
Hinboun, which is being expanded by the 280-MW Theun-Hinboun Expansion proj-
ect; and 1,070-MW Nam Theun 2.
Philippines implements renewable energy incentives
Philippines Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes signed rules May 25 implementing legislation
to encourage investments in renewable energy including hydropower and ocean energy.
The rules implement the Renewable Energy Act enacted in December, providing
tax incentives to investors in hydropower and ocean, solar, geothermal, and biomass
energy. Incentives include a seven-year income tax holiday, duty-free importation of
equipment, and a zero percent value-added tax rate for power sales.
Although a third of the Philippines energy mix is renewable energy, including hydro and
geothermal energy, the government plans to increase that to 40 percent over 10 years.
Reyes told a news briefng the government hopes to attract up to US$10 billion in
renewable energy investments over the next decade. Local news reports quoted him
saying the total renewable potential of the entire country is 200,000 MW, compared to
existing generating capacity of 15,000 MW.
On-Line Report
*N/A = Not available
Project
Name
Owner Country River
Capacity
(in MW)
On-Line
Date
Service/Product Suppliers
Cost
(US$ millions)
Notes
Kopswerk 2
Vorarlberger
Illwerke AG
Austria Ill 450 May-09
ABB AG, Adams Schweig AG, Andritz Hydro,
Arge Drukstollen Kops II (Swietelsky Bau
Tunnelbau GesmbH, Torno SA, and Torno
S.p.A.), Arge Kavernenkrafthaus Kops II
(Jager Bau GmbH, Beton und Monierbau,
Zublin, and Alpine Mayreder), COWA Remsc-
heid GmbH, Hans Kunz GmbH, VAM GmbH,
VA Tech SAT GmbH & Co., Voith Hydro
545
Pumped storage
using separate
pumps and
turbines
Laxiwa
Yellow River Hydro-
power Development
Co.
China Yellow 4,200 May-09 Voith Hydro 2,200
First two of six
700-MW units
start
Masparro
Corporacion Elec-
trica Nacional
Venezuela Masparro 25 May-09 N/A* 40
Built at existing
Masparro Dam
N.Z. studies
four Clutha River
hydro options
New Zealand utility Contact
Energy invites comments on
four options to develop hy-
dropower on the Clutha Riv-
er ranging from 86 MW to
350 MW.
Contact invited comments
on a special Internet site linked
to the utility website, www.
contactenergy.co.nz. Options
include 350-MW Tuapeka
Mouth, 185-MW Beaumont,
160-MW Queensberry, and
86-MW Luggate.
Normally, developers se-
lect a preferred project upon
which they consult with the
community, the Contact
website said. We dont yet
have a preferred option -- we
want to hear peoples views
more generally and on each
of the options that we are cur-
rently reviewing.
The utility said it wants
people to tell Contact what
they think about the possi-
bility for new hydro devel-
opment and what ideas they
might have for possible hydro
schemes. It proposes to an-
nounce a preferred option in
2010, leading to further dis-
cussion of a more clearly de-
fined proposal.
The four hydro schemes un-
der consideration were inherit-
ed by Contact Energy from its
predecessor, Electricity Corp.
of New Zealand.
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Wi nd- Hy d r o I nt e gr a t i o n
P
ublic awareness continues to increase re-
garding the environmental effects of green-
house gas emissions. As a result of this increasing
awareness, over the past 15 years there has been
substantial development throughout the world of
new electricity generating technologies that pro-
duce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Wind power is now included in the electricity
systems of many developed countries. In Spain,
more than 13,800 MW of wind power is installed,
providing about 10 percent of the countrys elec-
tricity production.
While wind power can offer signifcant fnan-
cial and environmental returns, this resource does
pose many challenges. Among these is the fact that
wind is an idiosyncratic fuel, due to its stochastic
nature and to the fact that it is impossible to store.
This idiosyncrasy poses diffculty for managing
energy systems, with a signifcant increase in the
resources required to establish a real-time balance
between generation and demand.
There are several existing generation technolo-
gies available to frm the variability of wind capac-
ity. At Iberdrola, we believe the best operational
option is pumped storage, which is always avail-
able and provides signifcant fexibility with regard
to start ups and shutdowns. Iberdrola is building
the 852-MW La Muela 2 pumped-storage plant
for this purpose and is investigating construction
of three additional pumped-storage plants with a
total capacity of 1,640 MW.
Iberdrolas wind resources
Iberdrola is the largest producer of wind energy
in the world. At the end of 2008, the company
had an installed wind capacity of 9,302 MW
around the world, including 4,526 MW in Spain,
665 MW in the United Kingdom, and 2,876 MW
in the United States. These plants produce nearly
17,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year. In
addition, Iberdrola is investigating potential new
wind plants around the world with a total capacity
of more than 54,000 MW.
By comparison, worldwide wind capacity at the
end of 2008 was nearly 121,200 MW, with pro-
duction of 260 terawatt-hours of electricity each
year, according to the World Wind Energy As-
sociation. More than 27,200 MW of this capacity
was added in 2008, the association reports.
Challenges with wind in
an electricity system
Wind is limited in quantity and cannot be stored.
Therefore, it is important to forecast wind speed
in order to estimate future production. However,
because wind is highly variable, this production
forecast has a large margin of error.
Wind imposes special requirements on the elec-
tricity system, both in the long and short term.
Long term
Over the long term, the challenge arises from the fact
that there are periods of time during which high de-
mand coincides with a low level of wind power gen-
eration, and vice versa. For example, for wind pro-
duction by the Spanish mainland power system, the
average load level between 2005 and 2007 was about
21 percent. During this same time period, the load
factor the ratio between the net amount of elec-
tricity generated and net output capacity varied
Fernando Pern Montero
and Juan Prez are
electrical engineers in the
hydropower generation
division of Iberdrola. Mr.
Pern is coordinating
the electromechanical
engineering for the 852-MW
La Muela 2 pumped-
storage plant. Mr. Prez
formerly was a trader in
the energy management
division of Iberdrola.
Spanish utility Iberdrola is building the 852-MW La Muela 2 pumped-storage plant to help
rm the variability of its more than 4,200 MW of wind capacity in the country. The utility sees
pumped storage as the best option for supporting other renewables.
By Fernando Pern
Montero and
Juan J. Prez
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The 635-MW La Muela pumped-storage plant in
Spain is being expanded with the addition of a sec-
ond powerhouse, 852-MW La Muela 2. Iberdrola an-
ticipates that this plant will begin operating in 2012
to help rm the variability of the utilitys extensive
wind capacity.
http://hrw.hotims.com RS #7 Visit us at Waterpower XVI, Booth 2013
signifcantly, with values of 2.5 percent to
70 percent. Thus, wind power stations may
not be available at those times in which they
are most needed for the electricity system.
This requires the installation of additional
power based on other technologies, which
replaces wind during periods of low wind
electricity production.
generating company produces a weekly
operation schedule that plans the start up
and shutdown time for each plant (called
the unit commitment). Thermal sta-
tions have a high cost associated with
start ups and shutdowns, so utilities make
use of their most fexible plants, such as
conventional hydro plants and pumped-
storage facilities. In this context, the
presence of substantial wind power pro-
duction has an important effect on the
weekly operation schedule. Because of
the stochastic nature of wind speed, the
uncertainty involved in weekly planning
is 25 percent of installed capacity, with
a confdence level of 70 percent.
1
With
wind power in Spain of 13,836 MW, the
uncertainty level on a one-week horizon is
3,460 MW. To absorb this uncertainty
would require shutting down or starting
up about nine 400-MW single-shaft,
combined-cycle plants.
On the daily horizon, auctioning of
production and demand of most of the
systems energy occurs one day ahead.
Predictive uncertainty in wind power
production one day in advance is 15
percent.
1
Using the 13,836 MW of wind
power in Spain as an example, this un-
certainty represents about 2,075 MW.
Short term
Over the short term, the effect of wind
power production on the balance be-
tween the market and electricity system
is clear. The time horizons of interest in-
clude weekly, daily, and real time.
Due to the difference in demand
between work days and holidays, each
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______________________________
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This is equivalent to starting up or shut-
ting down fve 400-MW single-shaft,
combined-cycle plants.
A substantial portion of the work to
correct this imbalance may be performed
in markets organized less than one day
ahead (typically three to 24 hours). How-
ever, the remaining imbalance has to be
and/or decrease generation, which is
governed in real time by the system
operators secondary power/frequency
regulation loop; and
A tertiary reserve mechanism,
which consists of the start up/shutdown
of a series of plants that receive remu-
neration for varying the load over a
maximum time of 10 minutes.
The role hydro can play in these two
mechanisms is discussed below.
Why pumped storage
is the best option
There are several types of electricity gen-
eration technologies that can be used to
help frm the variability of wind capac-
ity. These include conventional hydro,
pumped storage, conventional thermal,
gas, and combined cycle. To analyze the
regulation capacity of these technolo-
gies, Iberdrola considered:
Start-up and shutdown capacity;
Regulation velocity (in percent
load per minute); and
Technical minimum load (in per-
cent of maximum load).
Conventional hydro
Hydro plants have several advantages.
First, they are the most fexible of the
technologies in performing continuous
start ups and shutdowns without a sig-
nifcant detrimental effect on the equip-
ments service life. Second, their load
variation speed is high. For example, it is
possible to vary the power by about 100
percent per minute. Third, the minimum
load is low, often less than 10 percent of
the installed power. Fourth, their fuel
cost is zero. And last, they do not produce
any emissions of greenhouse gases.
The only limitation of this type of tech-
nology is its connection to the hydraulic
management of rivers. This is mainly
conditioned by the storage capacity of the
reservoirs in the basin in which each plant
managed in real time by other groups of
the system, which requires an increase in
the services dedicated to this objective.
Using the Spanish mainland power sys-
tem as an example, there are two principal
mechanisms to solve these imbalances:
A secondary reserve system, in
which plants offer a range to increase
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1ogether we oan offer investors oomplete solutions ranging from
the development and design to the delivery of hydroeleotrio
power plant equipment on a turnkey basis.
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L-mail: infolitostrojpower.eu
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________________________________
___________________
____ _______
Construction is under way on the 852-MW La Muela 2 pumped-storage project
in Spain and is scheduled to be complete in 2012. In addition, Iberdrola plans to
begin construction of two other pumped-storage plants in Portugal in 2010.
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is located. During dry years, the reservoir
level can decrease signifcantly, limiting
the hydraulic power available.
Conventional hydro is the most attrac-
tive option for frming the variability of
ing stations have the same characteris-
tics as conventional hydro plants. Ad-
ditionally, their operation is not limited
by exploitation of the basin in which they
are located. Thus, their power is always
available, even during dry periods when
conventional hydro is limited.
A disadvantage of pumped storage,
when compared to conventional hydro,
is that it is necessary to pump the water
to the upper reservoir to produce elec-
tricity. This cost of this process is the
price of the electricity divided by the ef-
fciency of the cycle (about 75 percent).
From the environmental point of
view, these stations permit a signifcant
reduction in electricity system emissions
by producing low-emissions electricity
during off-peak periods and replacing
more contaminating technologies (such
as fossil-fueled plants) during periods of
wind capacity, for
two main reasons.
It is the lowest cost
technology and
the cleanest one,
as its greenhouse
gas emission level
is zero. However, in
developed systems,
almost all the hy-
droelectric potential
is harnessed. This
makes it diffcult to
increase power to
supply regulation
services. Therefore,
other technologies are needed to provide
balancing services.
Pumped storage
From the technical point of view, pump-
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Wind turbines provided about 10 percent of the elec-
tricity production in Spain. Spanish utility Iberdrola,
the largest producer of wind energy in the world,
had installed wind capacity worldwide of 9,302 MW.
The utility is building pumped-storage facilities to
help rm the variability of its wind capacity.
peak electricity demand.
After conventional hydro, pumped-
storage plants are the best choice to frm
the variability of wind. Power from these
plants is available without the restrictions
inherent in conventional hydro plants.
A disadvantage of this technology is its
fuel cost. However, in systems with a
signifcant quantity of thermal generation,
this risk is quite limited because off-peak
prices usually drop considerably due to
the fact that these stations cannot perform
start ups and shutdowns on a daily basis.
Conventional thermal
The start-up and shutdown capacity of a
conventional thermal plant is limited, for
two reasons. First, its start-up process
requires a substantial amount of energy,
which involves a substantial cost. Sec-
ond, performing continuous start ups
this type of plant, the main disadvantage
is their high fuel cost (40 percent greater
than those of combined cycle plants).
Combined cycle
From the fexibility point of view, these are
and shutdowns signifcantly reduces the
service life of the plant.
The regulation velocity of conven-
tional thermal stations is limited to about
1 percent per minute, due to their high
thermal inertia. However, their control
range is acceptable, given that the tech-
nical minimum lies at about 45 percent
of maximum power.
Open cycle gas
This type of technology involves signif-
cant fexibility for continuous start ups and
shutdowns. In addition, it allows relatively
rapid power variations, with a change ve-
locity of about 4 percent per minute.
On the other hand, the minimum power
of these plants usually is about 60 percent
of full load, which limits their regulation
capacity to 40 percent of rated power.
Despite the technical advantages of
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______________
Our HyService is electrifying!
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Why do more hydro power owners
choose Voith Hydro as their reliable
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Because of its rapid development of new
wind turbine installations, Iberdrola is
continuously seeking to broaden its port-
folio of pumped-storage stations. It can be
diffcult to fnd suitable sites that permit
the construction of pumped-storage sta-
tions at a moderate investment cost. Even
in systems where suitable sites are avail-
able, the investment cost of this type of sta-
tion is very high, which obliges developers
to assume a very high risk during the long
periods of amortization required.
Iberdrolas most recent activity to add
to its pumped-storage portfolio involves
expansion of the existing 635-MW La
Muela plant with the installation of a sec-
ond powerhouse. La Muela began operat-
ing in 1989. Construction of 852-MW La
Muela 2 began in 2006 and is expected
to be complete in 2012. The new power-
house will contain four sets of generators
In the case of systems with low levels
of hydro generation, a mixture of open
cycle and combined cycle power plants
is the most viable alternative to frm the
variability of wind.
Iberdrolas pumped storage
development activity
Iberdrola has always sought to develop
technologies that provide low greenhouse
emissions. In fact, the company has about
10,000 MW of hydro capacity world-
wide, including more than 8,800 MW
in Spain. Of this 8,800 MW, more than
2,300 MW is pumped storage. Ibderdro-
las plants represent 47 percent of the
installed hydro capacity in Spain. This
large portfolio of hydropower plants has
allowed Iberdrola to maximize the prof-
itability of its wind turbine installations
from the moment of their construction.
between conventional thermal stations and
open cycle turbines. Thus, with respect to
conventional thermal stations, they are
more robust to perform continuous start
ups and shutdowns, due to the greater
fexibility provided by the gas turbine.
With regard to the regulation veloc-
ity, it is about 2.5 percent per minute,
slightly lower than open cycle turbines,
because of the higher thermal inertia of
the combined cycles conventional part.
Lastly, the minimum power of these
plants is nearly 50 percent of the power
at full load.
After conventional hydro and pumped
storage, combined cycle plants are the
next most likely option to frm the vari-
ability of wind. These plants can render
regulation services at a moderate variable
cost, although qualitatively higher than
conventional hydro or pumped storage.
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___________
(supplied by Alstom) and pump-turbines
(supplied by Voith Hydro). Fomento de
Construcciones y Contratas, S.A. (FCC)
of Spain is the civil contractor for La Mu-
ela 2, and a consortium of Alstom, Sacyr
Vallehermoso, and Cavosa is supplying
the penstock. Ingenieria y Construccion
S.A.U. (Iberinco) is performing the engi-
neering work for La Muela 2.
In addition to this plant currently
under construction, Iberdrola plans to
develop the Alto Tomega hydroelectric
complex in Portugal. Construction of
the 1,200-MW complex involves build-
ing four dams and four power stations,
two of which will be pumped-storage fa-
cilities. The two pumped-storage plants
will be 779-MW Gouvaes and the 112-
MW Pradoselos. Construction on this
complex is proposed to begin in 2010
and be completed in 2018.
Accordingly, Iberdrola is involved in the
development of several of these plants.
When completed 2018, they will provide
nearly 1,750 MW of capacity to the elec-
trical system in Spain and Portugal.
Note
1
Nielsen, Henrik Aalborg, et al, et al. From
Wind Ensembles to Probabilistic Informa-
tion about Future Wind Power Production
Results from an Actual Application,
9th International Conference on Probabi-
listic Methods Applied to Power Systems,
Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm,
Sweden, 2006.
Reference
Carlsson, Frederik, and Viktoria Neimane,
A Massive Introduction of Wind Power.
Changed Market Conditions? Elforsk
Report, Elforsk, Sweden, June 2008.
Finally, Iberdrola is considering sev-
eral other locations for pumped-storage
facilities. Among these is the 750-MW
Santa Cristina plant in Spain.
Summary
Wind power is a generating technology
that is included in many countries electri-
cal systems and permits a substantial re-
duction in emissions of greenhouse gases.
However, the increasing penetration of
this technology in current electricity sys-
tems requires a substantial increase in the
resources required to balance generation
and demand, as well as additional invest-
ments to guarantee the continuity of elec-
tricity supply when wind intensity is low.
Of all of the available technologies in
current electricity systems, pumped-stor-
age plants constitute the most attractive
option for frming the variability of wind.
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Marla Barnes is Publisher,
Hydro Group, for
PennWell Corporation
B
y 2020, a ffth of all energy consumption in
European Union (EU) member countries
must come from renewable sources hydro,
wave, solar, wind, and biomass. This mandate,
which EU leaders signed in March 2007, is part of
a proposal designed to cut greenhouse gas emis-
sions by 20 percent (compared with 1990 levels).
For hydroelectric power, this mandate trans-
lates to signifcant growth in development of new
capacity and in upgrading of existing facilities
throughout Europe.
Several new conventional hydroelectric proj-
ects entered commercial operation in the past
few months something not seen in several de-
cades. Examples of new projects include: Sonna
in Norway (270 MW), Glendoe in the United
Kingdom (100 MW), and Blanca in Slovenia
(42.5 MW).
For small hydro (less than 10 MW), devel-
opment opportunities are signifcant. Provided
the mandate by EU member countries is imple-
mented on a timely basis, the European Small
Hydropower Association (ESHA) estimates that
installed small hydro capacity could reach 16,000
MW by 2020 a more than 4,000-MW increase
over current levels.
Another area of signifcant growth for the
hydropower sector in Europe, especially in the
central region of the continent, is in pumped stor-
age. In addition to supplying additional electricity
during times when demand for power is highest,
pumped storages ability to balance power pro-
duction and regulate the transmission network, in
light of increased use of intermittent renewables,
particularly wind, is attractive.
As many as ten pumped-storage facilities are
under construction, including 178-MW Avce in
Slovenia, 540-MW Kopswerk 2 in Austria, 480-
MW Limberg 2 in Austria, and 141-MW Nestil
in Switzerland. Several more potential projects
are being investigated.
Europe also is an established leader in research
and development of new technologies ocean,
wave, and hydrokinetic. Thirty years ago, the
United Kingdom had the most aggressive wave
power research and development program in the
world. This commitment to research and devel-
opment, as well as to commercialization of new
designs, continues today throughout Europe.
Installed hydropower in Europe totals ap-
proximately 179,000 MW. European countries
with the largest amounts of hydro include France,
Italy, Norway, and Spain. Maintaining and, in
many cases, upgrading, this existing infrastruc-
ture continues to be an important focus through-
out Europe.
The emphasis in Western Europe is retroftting
hydro plants with modern equipment, usually
upgrading the capacity of the plant. In Eastern
Europe, the focus is rehabilitating aging plants
that often were allowed to deteriorate during the
era of the Soviet Union.
Numerous utilities are committing signifcant
resources to upgrade entire portfolios. For ex-
ample, here in France, national utility Electricite
de France (EDF) is investing more than 2 bil-
lion euros (US$2.5 billion) as part of Frances
economic stimulus program, including spending
on modernization of hydroelectric projects. In
recent months, EDF has issued several solicita-
tions for hydropower equipment and other work
for its many projects, including up to 50 turbine-
generators over fve years.
Editors of HRW magazine and HydroWorld.
com continually track European project construc-
tion and rehabilitation progress. To regularly follow
hydropower development and rehabilitation activity,
bookmark www.hydroworld.com.
Hydropower in Europe:
Current Status, Future Opportunities
Out l o o k
By Marla J. Barnes
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Imran Sayeed is chief
(geology) for NHPC Limited,
which develops and
operates hydroelectric
projects in India.
This article has been evaluated
and edited in accordance with
reviews conducted by two or
more professionals who have
relevant expertise. These peer
reviewers judge manuscripts for
technical accuracy, usefulness,
and overall importance within
the hydroelectric industry.
Ci v i l Co n s t r uc t i o n
Project Development in the Himalayas:
Solving Geotechnical Challenges
During hydro project construction in the Himalayas, Indian utility NHPC Limited has faced
multiple geotechnical challenges. To overcome these, the company has implemented a
number of solutions, including providing adequate reinforcement for rock slopes and choos-
ing tunneling practices to best deal with the rock conditions.
layas. In addition, construction is under way on
800-MW Parbati 2 with its 31.5-kilometer-long
headrace tunnel and 3,000-MW Dibang with a
288-meter-high dam, which will be the highest
concrete gravity dam in the world.
Hydro development in the Himalayas
The Himalayas are the worlds highest moun-
tain range, with more than 100 peaks attaining
a height above 7,200 meters. In India, the Hima-
layas run, from west to east, through the states of
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttra-
khand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam.
The Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra riv-
ers arise in the Himalayas and fow toward the
northern plains in India. These rivers are fed
by the permanent snow line and glaciers in
the summer and by heavy rainfall during the
monsoon season. This arrangement of a steep
fall in the Himalayan river beds, together with
perennial discharge, forms an ideal setting for
hydropower development.
Geotechnical challenges and solutions
In the Himalayas, the geological challenges
occur in part from the fact that this mountain
range evolved due to the collision of the Aus-
tralasian and Eurasian plates. The rocks were
thrown into several folds and fault zones, giv-
ing rise to a disturbed rock mass traversed by
several discontinuities. Geotechnical challenges
that must be solved include: assessing foundation
conditions, ensuring stability of high cut rock
slopes, securing rock slopes during construction
I
n India, the Himalaya mountain range has
enormous untapped potential for hydro devel-
opment. According to the Central Electricity Au-
thority of India, about 80 percent of the 148,700
MW of hydro potential in the country comes from
rivers that arise in the Himalayas. In fact, only 2
percent of the potential in northeastern India and
24 percent of the potential in northern India has
been developed.
One signifcant challenge in developing this
potential is the structurally unsound rock and
other issues related to the complexity of the re-
gions geology. Throughout 33 years of develop-
ing hydro projects in this area, NHPC Limited
(formerly known as National Hydroelectric Power
Corporation Limited) has developed solutions to
a number of geotechnical problems. For example,
it is possible to successfully excavate underground
powerhouses or make high cut slopes for spillways
or surface power stations in the Himalayas by
carrying out detailed investigations and using ap-
propriate rock support systems. Other challenges
for which NHPC has developed solutions include
dealing with diffcult foundation conditions, lo-
cating construction materials, and tunneling in
uncertain rock conditions.
Experience shows that it is feasible to build
large dams in the Himalayas despite constraints
the geology imposes. For example, the highest
concrete gravity dam (Bhakra Dam), highest
rockfll dam (Tehri Dam), longest headrace tun-
nel (associated with the 1,500-MW Nathpa Jhakri
project), and largest underground powerhouse
cavern (Tehri) in the country are all in the Hima-
By Imran Sayeed
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build a rockfll dam on a site with shal-
low bedrock.
Other factors such as availability
of construction materials and capacity
required for the spillway also plan a
major role in selecting the type of dam.
For concrete dams, proper investiga-
tion is required to determine the sub-sur-
overburden to this depth is feasible
without much diffculty. Deeper excava-
tion involves problems of seepage, slope
stability, and time required to complete
the work. However, if suffcient materials
are available for construction of a rock-
fll dam and an adequate spillway can be
provided, it could be less expensive to
of above-ground powerhouses, locating
construction materials, and tunneling
in uncertain rock conditions.
Assessing condition of the foundation
Rivers that arise in the Himalayas have a
high-velocity fow of water because of the
steep fall. The rivers often follow weak
zones of rock, such as faults. In these ar-
eas, deep erosion in the river bed may be
covered by loosely consolidated deposits.
These rivers often fow through narrow
gorges that may be the result of a major
discontinuity. Because of this situation,
there is a general tendency of an irregu-
lar deep bedrock profle in many river
sections. Choices of viable dam sites of-
ten are limited, so proper site selection
in the deep gorges or even in relatively
wider valley sections that may have bur-
ied channels is quite challenging.
Choosing a site for a dam in the Hi-
malayas primarily requires careful as-
sessment of foundation conditions. For
rivers with deep bedrock (30 meters or
more deep), building a rockfll or con-
crete-faced rockfll dam (CFRD) with a
positive cutoff, such as a plastic concrete
diaphragm wall, is an effective measure
to avoid the need to excavate down to
the bedrock. For example, NHPC built
a CFRD at 280-MW Dhauliganga 1,
where the bedrock was 65 to 70 meters
deep. NHPC also used this solution at
520-MW Parbati 3, which features a
conventional rockfll dam with a clay
core and a cutoff wall to a depth of 40
meters. Rockfll was chosen over CFRD
for this site because it is less expensive
than excavating to bedrock and avoids
the construction risk involved in this
practice. In addition, transporting a
large quantity of cement to the remote
location would be challenging.
If the bedrock is shallower than 30
meters, construction of a concrete dam
may be a better option. Excavation of
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Construction of a positive cutoff wall is one solution for dealing with deep bedrock conditions in rivers in the
Himalayan mountain region.
face bedrock profle, as well as the founda-
tion conditions. In situations where there
is a large deviation in foundation depth,
problems may include increased excava-
tion, water seepage, and large increases
in concrete. This can cause problems
with regard to a projects construction
schedule. In addition, provisions may be
required for treatment of shear zones. For
the concrete dams built to impound water
for the 540-MW Chamera 1 and Parbati
2 projects, NHPC was able to use a care-
fully planned drilling program to predict
the bedrock conditions quite accurately.
Ensuring stability of rock slopes
There are several projects in the Hima-
layas that may involve slope cuts more
than 50 meters high. This includes ex-
cavating for building side channel spill-
ways at rockfll dams or for removal of
weathered or slumped rocks, which typi-
cally are present at many sites in the Hi-
malayas. Removal of these rocks may be
needed to provide a sound foundation
for placement of the dam and a proper
junction between the dam body and
abutments, or for building side channel
spillways at rockfll dams. Rock condi-
tions play a pivotal role in the design of
such slopes and the need for adequate
rock reinforcement.
For 280-MW Dhauliganga 1, a high
Building above-ground powerhouses
For hydro projects in the Himalayas that
involve surface powerhouses, slope sta-
bility is a problem. Because of the narrow
confguration of the valleys, space must
be created for powerhouses by cutting the
hill slope. For Parbati 2, a surface power-
house with hill cutting of 100 of 125 me-
ters was planned. This powerhouse is in
meta-basics and chlorite schists/phyllites
with three sets of joints. This slope has
suffered three collapses due to the deep
cutting. Redressing of the slope with
heavy supports is under way. The sup-
port elements consist of 35-meter-long
cable anchors, 6- to 12-meter-long rock
anchors, shotcrete, and wire mesh. The
entire slope is expected to be completed
by the end of 2009.
As the above example illustrates, ex-
ecution of slopes, particularly in adverse
rock conditions, remains a challenge.
Depending on the slope height and rock
conditions, heavy supports may be re-
quired. Generally, for high slopes there
is considerable provision of support
measures. These supports include long
rock bolts or anchors (9 to 15 meters),
cable bolts, treatment by injection of
grout, and/or use of reinforced concrete
plugs to make small horizontal tunnels
into the slope. Proper drainage arrange-
ments also are necessary.
Accordingly, it is important to provide
suffcient time in the schedule for instal-
lation of systematic supports during
excavation. The amount of time needed
depends on the magnitude of the work.
The Bureau of Indian Standards
publishes codes of practice for geologi-
cal investigation for dams and power-
houses,
1
which are followed in India to
perform river valley investigations. In
view of the problems faced in the Hi-
malayas and also based on the successes
achieved at some projects, the following
steps are recommended for deep open
slope cut was to be executed on the right
bank in strong biotite gneiss of Pre-Cam-
brian age. However, the joint patterns of
this rock were such that prominent un-
stable wedges formed. When the excava-
tion work began in 2000, blocks as large
as 10,000 cubic meters in volume started
to fall from the cut slope.
To solve this problem, NHPC engi-
neers proposed special support measures
apart from modifying the slope of the
rock. Rock supports already proposed
for the situation included 18-meter-long
cable bolts; 9-, 12-, and 15-meter-long
rock anchors; shotcrete; and wire mesh.
The special measures involved reinforc-
ing the rock mass by driving 30-meter-
long tunnels, with additional cross-cuts,
into the hill slope and then back-flling
the tunnels and cuts with concrete and
steel. This solution stabilized the slope
and enabled the project to be commis-
sioned on schedule in March 2005.
In this case, the large size of the blocks
was detrimental to slope stability and
necessitated modifcations to the slope
angle, as well the support measures. The
key to success for a high slope excavation
lies in proper investigations, design, and
support provisions and careful execution.
This arrangement is described below for
surface powerhouses where high open
cuts may be involved.
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For high cut slopes in the Himalayas, use of proper excavation and support methods are important to ensure
stability during hydro project construction. The photo on the left shows high cut slopes with vulnerable joints.
In the right photo, pre-stressed cable bolts are being used to support the slope.
excavations for surface powerhouses or
for high cut slopes for other structures:
Complete geotechnical mapping,
on a 1:1,000 scale, covering the entire
area of the cut slope, as well as about 50
meters on the sides and above the top of
the proposed cutting line;
Excavate two to three test tun-
nels to probe the slumped or weathered
zones and determine the nature of any
discontinuities;
Drill two to three holes beyond
the periphery at an elevation 10 to 20
meters above the top of the cut line, to
delineate the overburden and weathered
or slumped rock that must be dealt with
immediately as the cutting begins and to
ascertain the quality of rock in deeper
excavations and thus both establish pre-
treatment before commencing actual
excavation and determine the adequacy
of rock supports;
Perform laboratory tests on rock
samples to determine physical and engi-
neering properties;
Perform in-situ rock mechanic tests
for shear strength, modulus of deforma-
tion, and elasticity; separate tests may be
necessary for shear strength along joint
planes;
Include suffcient provisions for
rock support according to numerical
analysis/design calculations and proper
scheduling in the tender for the works or
contract with the executing agency;
Use controlled blasting and im-
mediate quick rock support during
execution of a high cut slope (height
of unsupported areas may not be more
than 2 meters for individual excavation
rounds); and
Use pre-strengthening measures
like grouting in weak rocks or vulnerable
areas.
Locating construction materials
The choice of a dam type greatly de-
projects in the Himalayas. Since 1975,
NHPC has completed more than 200
kilometers of tunnels in the region. Al-
though many projects with tunnels
have been completed in the Himalayas
by other companies as well, some have
taken a decade or more, with the delays
mainly attributed to tunnel completion.
Contractors cite poor rock conditions
as the prime reason for cost and time
overruns.
Keys to successful tunneling include:
Investigation and rock mechanics
testing, before construction begins, to
develop a suitable tunneling method, se-
lect support elements for different types
of rock, estimate the quantity of work to
be performed, and identify geohazards
that require treatment (such as fractured
and crushed rock zones, fault crossings,
water ingress under high pressure, and
rock burst areas); and
Provision of immediate primary
support in the heading portions, consist-
ing of shotcrete or fber-reinforced shot-
crete, together with rock bolts. When this
support is not in place, there are likely to
be collapses and subsequent disruptions
to the work.
The tailrace tunnel for 480-MW
Uri 1 provides an example of effcient
support methods in poor and highly
pends on the availability of construction
materials. In the Himalayas, the rocks
contain a considerable percentage of free
mica, rendering them unsuitable for use
as aggregate. In addition, because of the
steep bed slopes in the rivers, the occur-
rence of suitable river shoals or terrace
deposits is rare. This results in greater
dependence on rock quarries.
Detailed work is required to choose
safe and environmentally benign loca-
tions for quarries. This work involves
studying the available rock types (which
could be used for aggregate) and per-
forming surveys, testing, and confrma-
tion regarding exploitable quantities.
The optimal choice is to locate quarries
in the area that will be submerged when
the reservoir is impounded because this
avoids affecting new areas. If suitable
deposits are not found in the reservoir
area, alternative locations for the quarry
are identifed, along with a plan for res-
toration of the quarry site after construc-
tion work is complete. Such restoration
plans are now part of the environmental
management plan included in the en-
vironmental impact assessment for all
NHPC projects.
Tunneling in uncertain rock conditions
Tunneling is an intrinsic part of hydro
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stressed rock conditions. Along the
course of the 2-kilometer-long tunnel,
the contractor encountered a folded
thrust zone between the sedimentary
formation and the meta-volcanics. Ac-
cording to the geomechanical classifca-
tion developed by Z.T. Bieniawski, the
rock encountered in the tunnel included
1 percent class II, 49 percent class III,
28 percent of class IV, and 22 percent
class V. There are fve rock classes in
the geomechanical classifcation, from I
(very good) to V (very poor).
Despite the poor rock quality at
this site, no steel arches were needed
for support, nor was there a single in-
stance of cavities or heavy overbreak.
(Overbreak is rock excavated in excess
of that needed to install the tunnel. In
this case, overbreak would result from
weak rock or close fractures or shear
zones that could not be controlled.)
Support elements used at this site
consisted of pre-grouting of the rock
mass, division of the tunnel section
into several parts for easier excava-
tion in poor rock, application of 200-
to 250-millimeter-thick shotcrete
with a double layer of wire mesh and
water-expanding bolts, and grouted
dowels. Successful completion of Uri
1 brought about changes in tunneling
techniques in the Himalayas, particu-
larly with respect to the use of f lex-
ible supports and pre-grouting as a
stabilization measure. The tunneling
method used at this site, designed by
Sweco of Sweden, is based on the New
Australian Tunneling Method. The
civil contractor was Uri Civil Contrac-
tor AB, a Swedish-British consortium
led by Skanska.
The use of tunnel boring machines
in the Himalayas has met with lim-
ited success. The Parbati 2 project is a
good example. This project involves
trans-basin water transfer between two
silt emerged from a probe hole under
high pressure, with a discharge of
5,000 to 6,000 liters per minute. This
caused inundation of the tunnel for
nearly 2 kilometers, and the tunnel bor-
ing machine was virtually buried under
silt. The discharge slowly subsided to
2,000 liters per minute and continues
more than two years after the leak be-
gan. As of February 2009, discharge
had reduced to 1,350 liters per minute.
An expert group consisting of experts
in contracts, civil design, cost engineer-
ing, geology, and fnancing has recom-
mended options for treating the diffcult
zone so that the balance of the tunnel-
ing can be completed. These options
include building a bypass tunnel and
treating the weak zone by grouting.
Conclusions
Development of the nearly 119,000 MW
of hydro potential from rivers in India
that arise in the Himalayas relies on
fnding solutions to challenges posed by
the regions complex geology. Through
33 years of experience developing hydro
projects in this area, NHPC Limited
has developed solutions to a number of
geotechnical problems. These solutions
have allowed construction of some of the
largest dams and hydraulic structures in
the world.
The views expressed in this article are
those of the author and not of NHPC
Limited management.
Note
1
Code of Practice for Sub-Surface Investigation
for Power House Sites, IS 10060: 1981,
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), New
Delhi, India, 1981 and 2004. A number of
other standards for geotechnical investiga-
tion and subsurface exploration are avail-
able under Division 14 Water Resources,
Section WRD-5 of the BIS.
rivers via a 31.5-kilometer-long head-
race tunnel. This is one of the longest
water-conducting tunnels in the world.
Total tunneling for the project, which
includes feeder tunnels and access adits,
is 57.2 kilometers. Construction of this
project began in 2002 and is scheduled
to be complete in 2010, according to the
revised program.
One element of success at this project
involved use of a double shield inclined
tunnel boring machine to excavate two
inclined pressure shafts. These shafts
are 1,546 meters in length and 3.5 me-
ters in diameter, at a diffcult angle of 30
degrees, and run through meta-basics
and chlorite schist bands. Progress in
the second pressure shaft was so fast that
the tunnel was completed in 136 days in
2006. The main reason for the success of
this tunnel boring machine is the moder-
ate strength of the meta-basics, which is
amenable to boring without diffculty.
Use of an open shield tunnel boring
machine to complete the portion of the
headrace tunnel that passes below a high
ridge met with less success. Initially, the
machine worked fairly well in granite
gneiss, schistose gneiss, and schist bands.
However, progress slowed as the tunnel
entered quartzites, and heavy-duty cut-
ters were required. Simultaneously, as
the rock cover on the tunnel increased to
800 to 1,000 meters, the jointed quartz-
ite gave rise to wedge failures near the
cutter head.
Because there were site limitations to
using shotcrete, the contractor used wire
mesh with channels in the crown por-
tion, together with rock bolts, as support
measures in class III conditions. In class
IV and some area of class III, ring beams
were used.
From 4,000 meters onwards, the
tunnel encountered closely jointed
zones and silt-flled discontinuities in
the tunnel. At 4,056 meters, water and
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New Hydro
Aquamarine, Airtricity plan
1,000 MW of ocean energy
Aquamarine, an affliate of Scottish and
Southern Energy (SSE), and renewable
energy developer Airtricity, a division of
SSE, are working to develop 1,000 MW
of wave energy sites in the British Isles
by 2020.
Aquamarine and Airtricity agreed
in February 2009 to form a 50-50 joint
venture to develop sites off the United
Kingdom and Ireland. They said work
on the frst two sites has begun, with
plans to advance additional sites over
three years.
Wheeler said the agreement gives
Airtricity, a wind and hydro developer,
a frst option on sites developed with
Aquamarine expertise, said Airtricity
Director Stephen Wheeler.
Study nds extensive ocean
power potential in Chile
A study by the Inter-American Devel-
opment Bank (IADB) fnds Chile has a
high potential for wave and tidal energy
development.
Energy Minister Marcelo Tokman
said the report confrms that Chile has
great potential for ocean energy and
details steps to follow in developing the
new energy source.
The report identifes attributes and
criteria for project selection and identi-
fes priority areas to establish projects. It
also indicated a need to implement spe-
cifc measurements of ocean generating
potential in certain areas of the country.
In addition, the report said it is necessary
to review site plans and existing infra-
structure to take advantage of generation
opportunities.
IADB is to promote research of the
new technologies to support creation of
a new market in Chile that can export
knowledge to the world. The government
of Chile previously announced plans to
create a renewable energy center to serve
as a clearinghouse and sponsor of non-
conventional renewable energy sources
for Chile and for South America.
The study was conducted by IADB
in coordination with Chiles economic
development agency, Corporacion de
Fomento de la Produccion (Corfo), and
Comision Nacional de Energia.
Israel wave energy developer
to supply units to China
Israel wave energy developer SDE En-
ergy Ltd. will supply wave plants to Chi-
na, with the frst installation planned off
Guangdong Province in southern China.
SDE Managing Director Shmuel
Ovadia said two joint venture companies
formed to implement the agreement plan
to build an initial model in Guangzhou.
It is to be deployed by the end of 2009.
Once the model has been proven, Ovadia
said the companies will begin installing
the plants in China.
The Chinese government must ap-
prove the installations and is to purchase
electricity generated by the plants, Ova-
dia said. Construction of the wave power
plants is to be fnanced by investors from
Hong Kong and China.
SDEs technology converts the ver-
tical motion of waves into hydraulic
pressure, which is then used to generate
electricity. The units, which are installed
on breakwaters, rest on the surface of the
ocean and are connected to the break-
water by a hydraulic arm. The units can
produce energy from both the rising and
falling of waves.
Ovadia said, to date, SDE has built eight
model wave power plants, with fnancial
assistance from the chief scientist of Is-
raels Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Oceanlinx receives Australian
development grant
Oceanlinx Ltd. of Australia is using
a A$2.95 million (US$1.93 million)
grant from the Australian government
to design and test the next generation
of Oceanlinx technology. The grant,
awarded under the AusIndustry Climate
Ready program, is to be matched by
Oceanlinx.
The technology Oceanlinx is develop-
ing consists of wave generators tethered
to the sea bottom that use oscillating
water column technology. Wave action
compresses air inside the unit, and that
compressed air turns turbine-generators
to produce electricity.
Oceanlinx said it successfully re-
deployed its full-scale wave energy con-
version unit at Port Kembla, Australia,
in early February for continued testing.
First deployed in 2005, the unit has been
undergoing planned refurbishment and
modifcations for several months.
Briey
Voith Hydro and RWE Innogy formed
Voith Hydro Ocean Current Technol-
ogies to develop ocean current power tech-
nologies and projects. The German compa-
nies said investment would total 30 million
euros (US$37.8 million) over the next few
years. ... Finland-based utility Fortum
and Swedish wave generator developer
Seabased Industries are seeking govern-
ment support to develop a 10-MW wave
energy project off the west coast of Sweden.
Continued on page 38
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Small Hydro
Uganda names Norway rm
to build 7.5-MW Birara River
The government of Uganda named Ja-
cobsen Elektro AS of Norway to build
a 7.5-MW hydroelectric project on the
Birara River.
The state-run New Vision said the
project, on the border of Kanungu and
Rukungiri districts, will be supervised
by the Uganda Rural Electrifcation
Agency.
Jacobsen Elektro also contracted New
Plan Consulting Engineers to perform
a feasibility study and environmental
impact assessment. New Plan is to com-
plete the frst phase of the study and as-
sessment by the end of 2009.
Offcials of Jacobsen Elektro and the
Uganda Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Development are to examine the results
after which construction is to begin.
Australia consultant to plan
expansion of 4-MW Afulilo
Samoas Ministry of Finance has named
SMEC International Pty Ltd. of Aus-
tralia to develop a plan to augment the
capacity of Samoas 4-MW Afulilo hy-
droelectric project.
SMEC received a US$1 million con-
tract to prepare the Afulilo Environmen-
tal Enhancement Project.
Turbine rehab awarded for
Swedens 9-MW Edsforsen
Hydropower operator Fortum Genera-
tion AB awarded a contract to Litostroj
E.I. of Slovenia to refurbish two turbines
at the 9-MW Edsforsen project on Swe-
dens Klaralven River.
Litostroj will supply two new Kaplan
turbine runners and perform related re-
furbishment work at the Edsforsen plant,
which was built in 1949.
Work is to include design and equip-
ment for refurbishing the vertical shaft
units, with new runners, new inner head
covers, new turbine shafts, and other
parts. Work is to be performed in 2010
and 2011.
Austria agency names supplier
for Kainischtraun piping
Osterreichische Bundesforste AG (OBf)
named Austrian frm Etertec Tiefbau
GmbH to supply pressure piping for the
3.5-MW Kainischtraun hydroelectric
project.
Etertec Tiefbau GmbH is supply-
ing 3,600 meters of pressure pipe and
fttings for the small hydro project in
Kainisch and Bad Aussee.
ESHA celebrates anniversary
and achievements
The European Small Hydropower As-
sociation (ESHA) is celebrating its 20th
anniversary this year.
Looking toward the future, ESHA
said a newly adopted renewable energy
sources directive paving the way for 20
percent renewable energy by 2020 will
bring a new drive for sustainable hy-
dropower development in the European
Union (EU).
The organization also said it plans
to continue to represent the interest
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of sustainable hydropower within the
renewable energy family, thereby con-
tributing to EUs security of energy
supply, to economic development, and
to abatement of climate change.
Representation over 20 years has
served to position the small hydro
sector and enabled it to effectively
promote the beneficial use of hydro-
power in the EU, ESHA said. It has
helped encourage the development
of small hydropower projects with
an installed capacity of up to 10 MW
through lobbying and other activi-
ties, including conferences, seminars,
workshops, and studies.
The non-proft association based
in Brussels, Belgium, promotes small
hydro plants and emphasizes environ-
mental integration. ESHA was created
through an initiative of the European
Commission in 1989 and has repre-
sented the interests of the small hydro-
power sector in the EU since that time.
ESHA is a founding member of the
European Renewable Energy Council.
It also is a member of the Alliance for
Rural Electrifcation.
Mavel equips refurbishment of
Finlands 862-kW Finnholm
Czech equipment supplier Mavel a.s. re-
ceived a contract from Vaasa Engineer-
ing Oy of Finland to supply a turbine for
refurbishment of the 862-kW Finnholm
hydroelectric project on Finlands Ahta-
vanojoki River.
Mavel said it is to provide a double-
regulated Kaplan bulb turbine, steel
intake, draft tube, and lubricating and
cooling system. The Mavel KA1800K4
turbine has a runner diameter of 1,800
millimeters and four runner blades.
Finnholm, which is owned by Oy
Herrfors Ab, has a net head of 5.35 me-
ters and a fow of 18.5 cubic meters per
second. Mavel expects to commission
the unit in September 2009.
On line reports: Macedonia,
Norway, Panama, Peru
New and refurbished small hydropower
projects in Macedonia, Norway, Pana-
ma, and Peru are now operating.
Utility EVN Macedonia brought
on line the refurbished and upgraded
9.6-MW Matka hydroelectric project
on Macedonias Treska River. The
Macedonian Information Agency said
Hydropol of the Czech Republic re-
furbished Matka under a concession
to modernize and manage seven small
hydro plants. New turbines and other
equipment were supplied by GE Nor-
way, while generators were provided by
INDAR Spain. Matka, formerly total-
ing 3.7 MW, was built in 1938.
Norway utility Statkraft began op-
eration of the 2.9-MW Rodberg hydro-
electric project in Norways Buskerud
County. The project uses 60 percent
of the water drop between the 206-
MW Nore 1 and 63-MW Nore 2 hydro
projects by using the minimum fow
release from Rodberg Dam. The plant
is to have an average annual genera-
tion of 15.5 gigawatt-hours. Statkraft
said development of Rodberg meets
the governments and Statkrafts goal
of upgrading and extending its existing
hydropower projects.
Developer Istmus Hydro Power Corp.
has commissioned its 10-MW Concep-
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cion hydropower project on the Piedra
River in Panamas Chiriqui Province.
The project is 500 kilometers west of
Panama City in the Chico River Basin.
Equipment supplier Mavel a.s. of the
Czech Republic said Istmus Hydro con-
tracted a consortium of ABB Inc. and
Mavel to provide equipment and super-
vise installation and commissioning.
Canada tungsten miner Malaga
Inc. placed the 600-kW Pasto Bueno
project into commercial operation on
the Pelagatos River at Malagas Pasto
Bueno mining operation in northern
Peru. Hidropesac, Malagas joint hydro
venture with Emerging Power Develop-
ers S.A. of Switzerland and Peru energy
company Electrokraft S.A., brought the
projects 450-kW horizontal and 150-kW
vertical Pelton turbines on line. Stucky
Ltd. of Switzerland assisted the develop-
ment. Hidropesac invested more than
US$3 million in the project. Construc-
tion was fnanced through sale of carbon
credits under the United Nations Clean
Development Mechanism.
Briey
The board of Brazils Agencia Na-
cional de Energia Eletrica (ANEEL)
approved the application of Casa de
Pedra Energia Ltda. to act as an inde-
pendent power producer by deploy-
ment and operation of the 8-MW Rio
dos Indios hydro project. ANEEL also
authorized Ferro Liga Ltda. to act as
a self-generator of electricity through
development and operation of 1.5-
MW Maria Celia Mauad Notini, in
Minas Gerais State. The African
Development Bank approved a loan
and a grant totaling 11 million Units of
Account (US$16.4 million) to fund an
electricity supply project in Leso-
tho. The project focuses on renewable
energy, including mini-hydropower
projects. Abu Dhabi National En-
ergy Co. acquired a 50 percent stake
in the Caribbean portfolio of Mar-
ubeni Corp., including 40 percent of
Jamaica Public Service Co. and its
eight small hydroelectric plants totaling
21 MW. The US$320 million deal forms
a joint venture portfolio of equity stakes
in generation and transmission facilities
in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Curacao.
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Professional Listings
New Hydro (continued)
The frms submitted an application of interest to the Swedish En-
ergy Agency for investment support of a full-scale wave power site
to utilize 500 generating units. Swedish utility Vattenfall has
acquired a 51 percent stake in Pandion Ltd., an Irish ocean ener-
gy site development company, for 500,000 euros (US$648,225).
Vattenfall said ocean energy developer Wavebob Ltd. will hold
the remaining 49 percent of Pandion, which has applied for ocean
energy sites on the west coast of Ireland. British engine and
power systems maker Rolls-Royce plans to embark on sea trials
of a 500-kW tidal power turbine-generator in the United King-
dom in the summer of 2009, said Ric Parker, director of research
and technology. The unit was developed with Tidal Generation
Limited. Rolls-Royce says it plans to test a 1-MW version about
18 months later. Npower renewables and wave energy de-
veloper Wavegen are moving forward with development of the
4-MW Siadar Wave Energy Project on the Isle of Lewis in
the Hebrides Islands of Scotland. The companies received con-
sent from the Scottish government for the project.
http://hrw.hotims.com RS #403 http://hrw.hotims.com RS #404 http://hrw.hotims.com RS #405
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PAN
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and
PAN
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PAN-Metallgesellschaft
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Phone: + 49 621 42 303-0 Fax: + 49 621 42 303-33
kontakt@pan-metall.com www.pan-metall.com
UK: Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon Ltd,
Canal head North, Kendal,
Cumbria LA9 7BZ
hydro@gilkes.com
USA: Gilkes Inc
gilkes@gilkesinc.com
JAPAN: Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon Ltd
h-yamamo@rf6.so-net.ne.jp
HYDRO AND POWER SYSTEMS
Reliable and innovative solutions utilizing over
150 years continuous hydro electric
turbines, generators, controls, switchgear and

associated plant up to and around 20MW.
All Services for Complete Solutions
from concept to completion and operation
from projects to complex systems
from local to multinational schemes
for public and private developers
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Ad Index
*IFC=Inside Front Cover, IBC=Inside Back Cover, and OBC=Outside Back Cover
RS# COMPANY PG#
12 3 Tier www.3tier.com 18
2 ALSTOM www.power.alstom.com 3
1 American Hydro www.ahydro.com IFC
36 ANDRITZ HYDRO GmbH www.andritz-hydro.com OBC
30 ASL AQFlow Inc. www.ashlandind.com 35
28 AXYS Technologies Inc. www.axystechnologies.com 33
7 Basler Electric www.basler.com 14
17 EDF Generation & Engineering www.edf.fr 25
5
Emerson Process Management
www.emersonprocess-power.com/hydro/
9
3 GGB Bearing Technology www.ggbearings.com/hydro 5
13 Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon Ltd. www.gilkes.com 19
8
HCS Hydro Component Systems, LLC
www.hydrocomponentsystems.com
15
RS# COMPANY PG#
4 IMPSA www.impsa.com 7
19 INSET www.inset.ru 29
31 Johnson Machine Works Inc. www.jmworks.com 36
27 Klohn Crippen Berger www.klohn.com 33
11 Litostroj Power www.litostrojpower.eu 17
34
LMH Laboratory for Hydraulic Machines
http://lmh.ep.ch
38
35 Marelli Motori S.p.A www.marellimotori.com IBC
33 Mavel www.mavel.cz 37
22 MC-monitoring SA www.mc-monitoring.com 29
16 Muhr GmbH www.muhr.com 23
21 MWH www.mwhglobal.com 29
32 National Electric Coil www.highvoltagecoils.com 37
RS# COMPANY PG#
15 Norris Screen & Manufacturing www.norrisscreen.com 22
20
PCR Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc.
www.rizzoassoc.com
29
18
Potencia Industrial S.A.
www.potenciaindustrial.com.mx
27
10 Seals Unlimited Inc. www.sealsunlimited.com 17
29
Sotek, Inc. and Belrix Industries, Inc.
www.sotek.com
33
26 Stellba Hydro www.stellba-hydro.ch 31
25 TES www.tex.cz 31
6 Thordon Bearings Inc. www.thordonbearings.com 11
24 Tyton Fematics Canada, Inc. www.fabgroups.com 31
23 Veski d.o.o. www.veski.hr 31
14 Voith Hydro www.voithhydro.com 20-21
9 Worthington Products, Inc. www.tuffboom.com 16
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POWER SOLUTIONS
MARELLI MOTORI S.p.A.
VIA SABBIONARA 1 - 36071 ARZIGNANO (VI) - ITALY
(T) +39 0444 479 711 - (F) +39 0444 479 888
www.marellimotori.com sales@marellimotori.com
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We generate added value for you.
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Moder ni zat i on I nt egrat ed Pl ant
Control NEPTUN Feasibility Studies
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ANDRITZ HYDRO GmbH
Penzinger Strasse 76, A-1141 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43.1.89100-2659, Fax: +43.1.8946046
WATERPOWER XVI
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OUTLOOK: HYDRO IN EUROPE 24

TACKLING GEOTECH CHALLENGES

Member: BPA International

bearings were specically developed to meet hydropower applications

expert control system, especially designed for power.

turbines, generators, controls, switchgear and

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