A hydropower renaissance is underway in Southeast Asia as generation capacity is set to double in the next ten years across Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines, according to engineering and construction company Black & Veatch.
The company has opened a Hydropower Centre of Excellence in Singapore as countries in the region look at new ways to harness the oldest and most established renewable energy source.
Black & Veatch’s hydropower growth projections in Southeast Asia are based on officially communicated government plans to develop hydropower facilities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines, across varying planning timescales.
“A common misconception is that hydropower is limited to schemes that include large-scale dam development,” said Charles Feild, Asia Pacific Hydropower Director, Black & Veatch, who is based in Singapore. “Governments and the investment community are exploring alternatives. Small and mid-scale run-of-river projects can be successfully developed with lower capital start-up costs and, by connecting remote areas to the grid, deliver additional socio-economic benefits for rural communities.”
Southeast Asia is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world with GDP growth rates projected to average 5.4% per annum between 2014 and 2018. With the region dependent on oil imports and facing potential natural gas supply shortages, mini, small and mid-scale hydropower have emerged as viable options to help meet growing demands for electricity.
“The power of water remains untapped in many parts of the region. Extensive efforts and plans are underway in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines to increase electric generating capacity, and hydropower will make-up a significant portion of the overall capacity increase in the years ahead,” said Feild.
“Singapore is regarded as the leading Asian infrastructure hub to develop, finance and implement projects in the region. Companies can leverage Singapore’s strong talent availability, ease of financing and regional connectivity to address opportunities in segments such as renewable energy, water and transport. We warmly welcome Black & Veatch’s decision to set up its Hydropower Centre of Excellence in Singapore, which builds on the strengths of its existing Water business here,” said Mr Goh Chee Kiong, Executive Director, Cities, Infrastructure & Industrial Solutions and Cleantech, Singapore Economic Development Board.
Black & Veatch has been providing services to the hydropower industry for more than 35 years. The company’s experience ranges from small 10kW (kilowatt) systems, to run-of-river plants of less than 1 MW to large projects with capacity greater than 1,000 MW. Black & Veatch was ranked 5th in 2013 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 10 in Hydroplants. The company has also operated in Singapore and Asia for more than 90 years.
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