Julie Buys

Globeleq acquires a majority stake in Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company, marking its entry into the Zambian energy market with two hydropower plants and a solar project.
The Asian Development Bank provides nearly a million dollars for improving Kyrgyzstan's energy system and considers an additional $150 million for the strategic Kambarata-1 hydroelectric dam.

Ukraine plans post-war reconstruction of strategic Kakhovka hydroelectric dam

Ukraine’s national operator Ukrhydroenergo announces an ambitious two-phase reconstruction plan to swiftly restore the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, destroyed during the conflict, at an estimated cost of up to one billion dollars.
Swedish energy developer Minesto confirmed a 25% increase in output from its Dragon 12 tidal system, marking a key step towards commercial deployment in the Faroe Islands.
Axpo will start major works in May around its Beznau hydropower plant to meet the requirements of its new operating permit valid until 2052, including the creation of new ecological habitats.

Orkla sells its hydropower portfolio for NOK 6.1 billion

Norwegian group Orkla announces the sale of its hydropower portfolio through two separate transactions, valuing the assets at NOK 6.1 billion. A strategic decision aimed at streamlining operations and refocusing priorities.
Eastern Kazakhstan plans to construct five hydropower plants with a total capacity of 74.3 MW, consolidating its position as a national leader in hydropower despite challenges related to land allocation.
Adani Group, a leader in renewable energy, plans to develop 10 GW of hydroelectric capacity in several Asian and African countries, including Bhutan, Nepal, Kenya, and Vietnam, to strengthen its green portfolio and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

ANDRITZ upgrades the Vamma hydropower plant in Norway

The international technology group ANDRITZ has been selected to upgrade one of the units of Norway's largest run-of-river hydropower plant, Vamma, increasing its capacity by 22% while improving its energy efficiency.
Eco Wave Power and Lian Tat Sign a Historic Agreement to Develop the First Onshore Marine Energy Installation in Asia, Starting with a 100KW Pilot Project in Taiwan.
Uganda is undertaking the construction of three hydropower plants on the Nile to add 1,632 MW to its electricity capacity while exploring nuclear initiatives to diversify its energy mix in response to growing demand.

EDF reaches an agreement with Gipreb for better management of freshwater discharges

EDF and the Groupement d’intérêt public pour la réhabilitation de l’étang de Berre have reached an agreement to optimize the management of freshwater discharges into this Mediterranean lagoon, reducing the risks of suffocation for local fauna and flora.
Uganda boosts its energy capacity with the opening of the Karuma hydropower plant, financed by China to the tune of 1.7 billion dollars, marking a new stage in Sino-Ugandan cooperation.
Plastic waste accumulating in the turbines of the Ruzizi hydroelectric power station has forced us to cut electricity production by half for South Kivu and neighboring regions.

Tajikistan faces electricity shortage due to water scarcity

Tajikistan is imposing electricity restrictions due to dwindling water reserves, disrupting its hydroelectric plants and raising concerns about the country's ability to meet energy demand.
Greece and Cyprus are moving ahead with the Great Sea Interconnector project, aimed at linking Cyprus to mainland Europe via a 1,240 km undersea cable, a key element in the energy integration of the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Los Lagos hydroelectric project in Chile is the subject of discussions between Statkraft and local indigenous groups, amid concerns about the project's social and environmental impact.

Lagdo dam: Risk management between Cameroon and Nigeria

The controlled opening of the Lagdo dam in Cameroon is causing concern in Nigeria, although hydrological authorities in both countries are tempering the risk of major flooding.
Lagdo dam
The Scanlon and Blanchard dam modernization projects in Minnesota illustrate a key initiative to strengthen energy infrastructure. These efforts are aimed at improving the resilience and efficiency of hydroelectric facilities in the face of growing climate challenges.
Brazil's prolonged drought has drastically reduced soil moisture in the main hydroelectric basins, threatening energy production and increasing electricity costs, with economic and inflationary repercussions.
Commissioning of the Gribo-Popoli hydroelectric plant strengthens Sino-Ivorian cooperation in the energy sector
The Vidraru hydroelectric power plant in Romania will undergo a major upgrade thanks to a €188 million investment led by KONČAR and Elektromontaj S.A.

Global hydropower rebounds from historic decline

Global hydropower is set to rise sharply in 2024, after a five-year decline, reducing the use of fossil fuels. The main producing regions, such as China, Brazil and the United States, recorded significant increases.
L'hydroélectricité mondiale rebondit après une baisse historique.
Ørsted and Wavepiston collaborate to optimize offshore energy production in Denmark through the co-location of wind and waves.
The USDA is financing a 3 MW hydroelectric power plant on the Kentucky River to support rural energy infrastructure.

River ecosystem threatened by dams in the Balkans

The Balkans risk irreversible damage to their rivers, warns an NGO, due to numerous hydroelectric dam projects.
L'écosystème fluvial menacée par les barrages dans les Balkans.
By 2023, marine renewable energies, dominated by offshore wind power, had generated over 8,300 jobs and doubled their sales, with strong growth in exports.
Uniper reactivates the Happurg pumped-storage power plant with a €250 million investment to stabilize Bavaria's energy supply.

Certification for the Ituango hydroelectric project in Colombia

Empresas Públicas de Medellín's (EPM) 2.4 GW hydroelectric project, Ituango, has been awarded silver certification by the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA), marking a significant recognition of its sustainable environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.
Certification  pour le projet hydroélectrique Ituango en Colombie.
Ukrainian hydropower regulator Ukrhydroenergo is committed to restoring 1 GW of generating capacity before winter, and is considering long-term construction projects for a further 2.4 GW.
Thanks to abundant rainfall, hydroelectric production in China reached a record level in May 2024, reducing the need for coal-fired power plants.

Seabased and EBID join forces for an ambitious project in Barbados

The Barbados Investment and Development Corporation and Seabased Group have sealed a strategic partnership for the construction of a wave energy park to power BIDC's hydrogen R&D activities.
Seabased et la BIDC unissent leurs forces pour un ambitieux projet à la Barbade.
Minesto and Sev have renewed their power purchase agreement, with prices adjusted to reflect the value of tidal power in the Faroe Islands' energy mix.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov proposes that the Islamic Development Bank finance the Kambarata-1 hydroelectric project, a major initiative for the country's energy infrastructure.

Hydro Tasmania Gets Green Light to Upgrade Edgar Dam

Hydro Tasmania launches modernization of Edgar Dam following federal approval, reinforcing the safety and efficiency of its infrastructure.
Modernisation Barrage Edgar Tasmania
Devlet Su İşleri (DSI), the Turkish water authority, has chosen ANDRITZ to supply the electromechanical equipment for the new 160 MW hydroelectric power plant in Silvan, Turkey.
The Luachimo hydroelectric power plant in Angola, renovated by China Gezhouba Group Corporation, quadruples its capacity, providing a sustainable solution to growing energy demand.

Agreement between IHA and CISPDR to promote hydropower

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) and CISPDR Corp. sign a memorandum of understanding at the World Water Forum in Bali to promote sustainable river basin management and hydropower sustainability certification in China.
Accord entre IHA et CISPDR pour promouvoir la durabilité de l'hydroélectricité.
Romania plans to join Serbia in building a third hydroelectric power station on the Danube, an ambitious but controversial project due to its environmental and navigability impacts.
The Krapivinskaya hydropower plant, an unfinished Soviet project, is the subject of controversy as Russia plans to revive it to diversify the economy of the Kemerovo region.