hydropower

But last year, weather conditions caused hydropower to fall short in a major way, with generation dropping by a record amount. In fact, the decrease was significant enough to have a measurable effect on global emissions. Total energy-related emissions rose by about 1.1% in 2023, and a shortfall of hydroelectric power accounts for 40% of that rise, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency. Between year-to-year weather variability and climate change, there could be rocky times ahead for hydropower.…

The Federal Government on Tuesday transferred the operations of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant (ZHPP) to a concessionaire, Penstock Ltd. Vice President Kashim Shettima made the disclosure during the first meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) for the year 2024 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the move was expected to boost Nigeria’s power generation capacity and contribute significantly to meeting the country’s growing energy demands. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that…

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects annual solar generation to surpass annual hydropower generation in 2024 for the first time. The EIA’s “Short-Term Energy Outlook,” released today, forecasts that the US will generate 14% more solar electricity than hydropower in 2024. That’s based on continued growth in new utility-scale and small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar. From 2009 to 2022, installed US solar capacity increased at an average rate of 44% annually, and installed US…

The Nigerian government on Wednesday said the Zungeru hydropower plant will begin operation before the end of November. Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this at an interactive session with Journalists on Wednesday. “Zungeru hydropower is ready. The concession has also been approved by Mr President. So we will start operating Zunger probably before the end of this month,” Mr Adelabu said. The construction works on the power plant started in May 2013. The plant comprises a reservoir at an…

South America’s largest floating solar farm is now online, and it’s paired with hydropower, which boosts energy reliability and production. Sausalito, California-based Noria Energy and partners developed the 1.5 megawatt (MW) floating solar pilot project – the largest of its kind in South America – for independent power producer URRÁ. The floating solar farm is called Aquasol, and it’s installed at the 340 MW Urrá hydropower plant in the Sinú River basin in Córdoba, Colombia. Aquasol…

Maerdang hydropower station in China, the “highest-altitude facility of its kind,” is expected to begin operations in March 2024. Massive hydropower station… The state-run China Daily reports that Maerdang, which is currently under construction in Qinghai province, is at 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) above sea level, on the upper reaches of the Yellow River. For perspective, the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania stands at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level. Maerdang’s…

Solar and wind power are the glamorous twins of the clean-electricity revolution. It is thrilling to see a field of glistening panels absorbing the sun’s energy or a vast turbine twirling above…

MUTARE, ZIMBABWE—Normally, the Murahwa Green Market here in this small city near the border with Mozambique bustles with welders, carpenters, and mechanics selling their services. But the market has been deathly quiet in recent weeks, as a prolonged drought has plunged Zimbabwe into a severe energy crisis. Water levels behind Zimbabwe’s main hydropower dam, which produces nearly 70% of the nation’s electricity, have dropped too low to reliably generate power,…

An East Coast installer and distributor of EV charging equipment called PlugIn Stations Online (PISO) has successfully installed what it calls “one of the world’s first” hydro-powered EV chargers operating off 100% clean energy. The systems show plenty of possibility for a clean future of hydropower EV charging in the US and beyond. “The revolution is electric.” Those are the first glowing words you see when you visit the website of PlugIn Stations Online (PISO). We won’t disagree. The Valatie,…

That’s why the park is a vital source for charcoal, or makala in Swahili, and for food—even though farming, fishing, hunting, and logging are all illegal. Park resources are stripped with regularity: between 2001 and 2020, Virunga lost almost 10% of its tree cover, and de Merode estimates $170 million in Virunga’s trees and ivory are lost annually. But the alternative for locals is being unable to pay local warlords or starving. These are perfect conditions for corruption.  "Congo is a bewildering place to make moral…