Latest news with #hydroelectric
CBC
7 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Churchill Falls project part of 'big things' Canada should focus on, says Hydro-Quebec
As shifting economic and political pressures put a new focus on nation-building projects, the head of Hydro-Quebec says it's time for Canada to step up and get the Churchill Falls project done. Government and industry officials are looking to develop more hydroelectric capacity on the Churchill River, which includes developing Gull Island, first announced in December. Hydro-Quebec CEO Michael Sabia says if the memorandum of understanding between both provinces was important when it was first announced six months ago, it has taken on greater significance across the country since. "Let's be very clear, Canada is under threat. This is a time of real, economic and political uncertainty. It's a time when Canadians need to work together to build a future," Sabia told a room of industry professionals on Tuesday during Energy N.L.'s annual conference. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he intends to fast-track nation-building infrastructure projects, and Premier John Hogan says he raised Churchill Falls during the first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon this week. Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro CEO Jennifer Williams reiterated how high the stakes really are. "What's at stake is the ability to make us a much stronger country. And if you think 'country first'—- great. Even if you think 'province first,' a much stronger country still benefits us all," Williams told reporters. On a national level, Williams said there is an "interest and impetus" to make Canada a stronger country, and the Churchill Falls megaproject has a role to play. Other jurisdictions across the country are lobbying their own projects, she warned. "So if we pause, if we hesitate, if we sputter, we're not going to be able to grab on to that," said Williams. "Something this momentous may not come again for a very long time. And who will we have to blame?" Sabia said current political tension with the United States, and Canada's economy, is why it is important for Churchill River projects to continue moving forward. "There are those who think Canada can't do big things. And it's time to show those people are wrong. And a number of those people are in the United States," he said. "And it's time for Canada to step up and demonstrate that big things — they are what we do." He says the Churchill River project is one of those "big things." 'Turned the corner' During the conference, which runs until Friday in St. John's, Sabia, Williams and Energy N.L. CEO Charlene Johnson spoke about the development of the MOU between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec, and the differences each team has to overcome. WATCH | Energy industry optimistic at annual conference: Energy N.L. conference opens with optimism about province's energy future 13 hours ago Duration 3:03 The annual Energy N.L. conference opened in St. John's on Tuesday. As the CBC's Terry Roberts reports, one thing dominated discussions: the multi-billion-dollar plan to increase hydroelectric output on the Churchill River. Williams, gesturing to Sabia on stage, called him an "unlikely partner" given the relationship between the two provinces. "We have turned the corner with Hydro-Quebec and this MOU is good for both provinces. We're working closely to get this whole opportunity in place. This is not 1969," she said. Sabia also spoke to the frustration Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have felt toward what has been considered a lop-sided and unfair agreement signed decades ago. The new deal will be balanced and benefit both provinces, he said. Sabia says the Churchill River is the type of project that will help both province's economies withstand tariffs and economic uncertainty. "As a sovereign country we ought to be doing these things that demonstrate — in particular to the United States — our ability to set foundations for a resilient, prosperous and autonomous economy going forward," he said.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Spotlight on new Churchill Falls deal at annual Energy N.L. conference
As industry leaders and specialists gather in St. John's for an annual energy industry conference, the spotlight is focused on a new hydroelectric agreement being forged between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. Energy N.L.'s annual conference runs until Thursday at the St. John's Convention Centre. According to the event's schedule, much of the focus will be on what's happening in central Labrador. The new Churchill Falls agreement is expected to be finalized by 2026. Government and industry officials are looking to develop more hydroelectric capacity on the Churchill River, which includes developing Gull Island, first announced in December. The first session delves into the three energy industries — oil and gas, wind-hydrogen and hydroelectricity — and how Newfoundland and Labrador fits into a global market. That's followed by a session focused on the Churchill Falls megaproject and the economic opportunities the memorandum of understanding between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Hydro-Quebec could offer. Hydro-Quebec CEO Michael Sabia and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro CEO Jennifer Williams will sit on a panel in the afternoon to discuss details about the deal. "The discussion will focus on why and how the MOU came together, the nation-building benefits of the proposed infrastructure projects — with a specific focus on Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec — and the long-term impacts of increased hydroelectric capacity for Newfoundland and Labrador, and beyond," reads a synopsis on the conference's website. Wind-hydrogen hype The conference's second day will focus on renewable energy, particularly wind-hydrogen. Representatives from the six companies interested in establishing wind-hydrogen projects in the province — Everwind Fuels, Pattern Energy, World Energy GH2, North Atlantic, EVREC and ABO — will be on a panel to speak about the sector and its challenges. During last year's conference, the spotlight was on the nascent wind-hydrogen sector. However, since then much of the hype around wind-hydrogen has subsided. Many of the projects have downsized or are exploring alternative business cases for a wind energy farm. Earlier this year, World Energy GH2 revised its plans for a wind project on Newfoundland's west coast, pivoting from a previously proposed green hydrogen and ammonia plant, to focus on data centres and e-fuel production. Other companies have been granted extensions by the provincial government for the millions owed to the treasury for Crown land reserve fees. Global pressure But optimism around the province's energy sector remains. Energy N.L. said Newfoundland and Labrador "has a strategic advantage in sharing its lower carbon energy with the world." There's also acknowledgement of ongoing economic uncertainty. The conference website says there's "current context of the resurgence of protectionist trade policies around the globe," a possible allusion to the ever-fluctuating trade war instigated by U.S. President Donald Trump. One of the conference's final sessions will focus on Newfoundland and Labrador's place in the global market, the opportunities that exist and the "resiliency" needed to navigate the changes.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
State DEC to complete report on inspection of city's hydro plant
Jun. 1—WATERTOWN — City Council members hope to hear soon more about the results of a state inspection at the city hydroelectric plant two weeks ago to determine whether the facility is in federal compliance. The state Department of Environmental Conservation completed an on-site inspection of the Marble Street hydro plant on May 15 after a group of river activists alleged that the facility on the Black River was not in compliance with its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license. Six DEC staffers spent a couple of hours taking a tour of the plant. Councilman Robert O. Kimball thinks that City Manager Eric Wagenaar will update council members about it during a future work session. "In general, it went well," Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce. "Awaiting more details from Eric." In March, the DEC requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission look into the city-owned hydro plant after recognizing that the situation with the facility is serious enough that FERC should "address this matter." A few days after the DEC inspection, Wagenaar sent out "a quick update" in an email to council members that read: "The DEC came with six staff members and spent a couple of hours with our team," the city manager said. "I would like to wait for the DEC report for the details, as we all see things differently and I do not want to get ahead of them. The visit was cordial and productive for us and the DEC," it was added. For weeks, the city prepared for the inspection. City Engineer Tom Compo, Water Superintendent Aaron Harvill, city civil engineer Jeffrey Hammond and Ampersand NY Operations, the Boston-based company responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hydro plant, planned on joining the DEC during the visit. The inspection was prompted after members of a river group, New York Rivers United, brought up their concerns to FERC in December. New York Rivers United, a group of whitewater advocates and rafting enthusiasts, outlined numerous instances in a 35-page document claiming the city's FERC license — known as P-2442 — was out of compliance for years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, another stakeholder in the FERC license, also attended the inspection. FERC also has notified the city that it has until June 14 to submit a report to respond to each of 11 allegations that maintain that the plant does not adhere to the commission's license. In 1995, the river group, the DEC and FERC negotiated the terms of the current license, designed to mitigate significant commercial, environmental and recreational impacts identified during the relicensing process. Other regional and national rivers groups — American Rivers, American Whitewater and Appalachian Mountain Club — also urged the DEC to notify FERC about the issues with the hydro plant. One of the most serious allegations involves aerial photographs from 2003 to 2024 that indicate downstream fish passage facilities appear to be out of compliance with the license. According to the license, the hydro plant is supposed to allow for fish to bypass the facility to prevent them from entering the facility. The city could be fined $27,893 a day for that violation. Wagenaar has questioned the motives of the river group, wondering why people who don't live in the state are interested in the city's hydro plant. Under the 1995 agreement, an account was set up to distribute funding for river accessibility projects. The city and Rivers United, which advocates for accessibility to the river, have been at odds about who decides how to spend that money. Wagenaar was out of town and unavailable for comment. DEC officials did not respond to written questions about the Watertown visit.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
State DEC to complete report on inspection of city's hydro plant this month
May 31—WATERTOWN — City council members hope to hear soon more about the results of a state inspection at the city hydroelectric plant two weeks ago to determine whether the facility is in federal compliance. The state Department of Environmental Conservation completed an on-site inspection of the Marble Street hydro plant on May 15 after a group of river activists alleged that the facility on the Black River was not in compliance with its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license. Six DEC staffers spent a couple of hours taking a tour of the plant. Councilman Robert O. Kimball thinks that City Manager Eric Wagenaar will update council members about it during a future work session. "In general, it went well," Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce. "Awaiting more details from Eric." In March, the DEC requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission look into the city-owned hydro plant after recognizing that the situation with the facility is serious enough that FERC should "address this matter." A few days after the DEC inspection, Wagenaar sent out "a quick update" in an email to council members that read: "The DEC came with six staff members and spent a couple of hours with our team," the mail said. "I would like to wait for the DEC report for the details, as we all see things differently and I do not want to get ahead of them. The visit was cordial and productive for us and the DEC," it was added. For weeks, the city prepared for the inspection. City Engineer Tom Compo, Water Superintendent Aaron Harvill, city civil engineer Jeffrey Hammond and Ampersand NY Operations, the Boston-based company responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hydro plant, planned on joining the DEC during the visit. The inspection was prompted after members of a river group, New York Rivers United, brought up their concerns to FERC in December. New York Rivers United, a group of whitewater advocates and rafting enthusiasts, outlined numerous instances in a 35-page document claiming the city's FERC license — known as P-2442 — was out of compliance for years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, another stakeholder in the FERC license, also attended the inspection. FERC also has notified the city that it has until June 14 to submit a report to respond to each of 11 allegations that maintain that the plant does not adhere to the commission's license. In 1995, the river group, the DEC and FERC negotiated the terms of the current license, designed to mitigate significant commercial, environmental and recreational impacts identified during the relicensing process. Other regional and national rivers groups — American Rivers, American Whitewater and Appalachian Mountain Club — also urged the DEC to notify FERC about the issues with the hydro plant. One of the most serious allegations involves aerial photographs from 2003 to 2024 that indicate downstream fish passage facilities appear to be out of compliance with the license. According to the license, the hydro plant is supposed to allow for fish to bypass the facility to prevent them from entering the facility. The city could be fined $27,893 a day for that violation. Wagenaar has questioned the motives of the river group, wondering why people who don't live in the state are interested in the city's hydro plant. Under the 1995 agreement, an account was set up to distribute funding for river accessibility projects. The city and Rivers United, which advocates for accessibility to the river, have been at odds about who decides how to spend that money. Wagenaar was out of town and unavailable for comment. DEC officials did not respond to written questions about the Watertown visit.
Tahawul Tech
16-05-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Vertiv to supply Polar's data centre in Norway
Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, recently announced that it has been chosen by Polar as the primary supplier for its first modular AI-ready data centre in Norway. Powered entirely by hydroelectric energy, the Polar facility minimises its carbon footprint whilst accommodating high-density, liquid-cooled environments of up to 120kW per rack. The Vertiv solution is designed with N+1 redundancy across electrical and thermal systems, delivering the resilience and reliability to support AI and accelerated computing operations. Polar's mission is to create an industry-leading, environmentally responsible infrastructure platform for their customers to develop the future of AI. As AI applications become increasingly resource-intensive, the demand for scalable and energy-efficient infrastructure is greater than ever. With Vertiv's preconfigured power and cooling infrastructure, Polar's new facility is set to meet these challenges, supporting a high-performance computing environment with operational agility that supports their sustainability business goals. Viktor Petik, senior vice president, infrastructure solutions at Vertiv, commented: 'This collaboration showcases the strength of Vertiv's modular approach, providing Polar with a high-density, AI-ready infrastructure that combines rapid deployment with outstanding energy efficiency. By leveraging factory-assembled infrastructure, we overcome traditional on-site challenges and deliver a solution tailored to Polar's evolving requirements'. Andy Hayes, CEO at Polar, said: 'We are excited to partner with Vertiv on this innovative project, which allows us to scale quickly and efficiently while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. The flexibility of Vertiv's solution enables us to easily expand to meet market demand, and helps us to support our clients with cutting-edge AI and HPC capabilities'. As part of this collaboration, Vertiv is designing, manufacturing, delivering, installing, and commissioning a fully equipped, scalable, AI-ready prefabricated modular (PFM) solution capable of supporting a 12 MW IT load, with the option to expand up to 50 MW. The solution includes Vertiv™ EXL S1, a highly efficient and grid-interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) able to support the variable power loads of AI and other HPC applications. It also features the compact Vertiv™ Liebert® AFC chiller with very low-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerant, designed to significantly reduce carbon emissions, and allowing up to 20% lower annual energy consumption compared to fixed screw systems. The first deployment phase of the project is set to go live in the second half of 2025, with further expansion already planned. The facility is the first in Polar's portfolio of ambitious developments that will raise the standard of AI-ready data centres across Europe. For additional insights into the Polar project, read the case study at this link. To learn more about Vertiv's solutions for AI and HPC deployments, visit Image Credit: Vertiv
