NEWSLETTER #9 _ December 2024

Dear Reader,

The year is approaching its end and we are happy to share our latest updates, insights and upcoming activities with you in this December edition of the Hydro4U Newsletter.

We are looking back on the progress of our demonstration sites so far, both in Shakimardan and in At-Bashy including potential obstacles and barriers we encountered along the way. But we are also looking at our next steps in advancing our activities and the start of official commissioning and installation of the turbines.

Beyond the installation and advancement of Hydropower at our demonstration sites, one of the projects objective is also to co-develop integrated cross-border policies and strengthen transboundary tributary governance in Central Asia. Hydro4U project partner IWMI is leading this activity while also being involved in developing and disseminating open-source educational materials which are based on lessons learned and important take-aways from project activities thus far.

Speaking of potential obstacles and possibilities, Hydro4U project partners from Hydrosolutions GmbH and the Technical University of Munich came together to publish a new scientific paper on "Challenges and Opportunities for the Badam-Sayram Water System under Changing Climate." The Badam River, a tributary to the Arys River located in the Syr Darya basin, is a crucial natural resource for ecological, social, and economic activities in the semi-arid region of southern Kazakhstan.

This year again, we are happy to have entered another round of the International Summer School 2024 at the Razzakov KSTU with a total of 9 students from across different European countries who once again had the chance to learn more about small hydropower in the region and acquire new skills and knowledge on the topic.

In addition to our own project activities, we are also part of a wider network of projects, clusters and initiatives and are always curious to collaborate and learn more about projects such as the Di-Hydropower project, wrapping up its first year since its launch in October 2023, the WE-ACT project bringing together key stakeholders in Central Asia as well as the ReHydro project, demonstrating how European hydropower can be refurbished to take up a role in future energy systems.

For more information on upcoming conferences and exhibitions on water management and smart solutions, please have a look at our events section.

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We hope you enjoy reading!

Bertalan Alapfy
Hydro4U Coordinator
Technical University of Munich
Chair of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering

Author: Thomas Eder, Global Hydro

Within the Hydro4U project, we are working on two demonstration sites in Central Asia, namely in Shakimardan and in At-Bashy.

Demonstration site in Shakimardan

During the course of this year, both turbines were installed. Due to the challenging accessibility of the demonstration site, some unforeseen logistical problems arose which we were able to solve and thus ensure a smooth process of installation. Thanks to efficient teamwork and good support provided by the project consortium, fulfilling the project milestones was successful. 

In addition, the Electro-Mechanical Equipment is under commissioning and will provide green energy for the enclave in Shakimardan.

Furthermore, an Island-Mode Operation is considered to reduce the dependence of the enclave from the surrounding power grid. Hitherto, several power shut downs were the reality of the people living there. With the new power plant, this situation can be improved significantly and thus contribute to the enhancement of this situation for the local population.

Due to the winter season, where the water volume in the river is low, one turbine will operate at about 85% of its nominal power – which stands at approximately 1,000 kW. In spring, there will be enough water for the full power capacity and the local staff will receive a training provided by Hydro4U project partner Global Hydro.

Demonstration site in At-Bashy

Meanwhile, we are also working on progressing our project activities in our second demonstration site in At-Bashy. Due to local reasons, the construction at site started a few weeks later than originally planned.

Our strong and reliable local partner “Orion LLC” is working at temperatures of less than -10°C to ensure the project is moving forward. Hydro4U project partner ILF was responsible for the construction planning and is in close contact with the local construction company.

Nevertheless, the weather conditions at site are very difficult due to the high elevation (2,400 m above sea level). Therefore, site works will be paused during the winter months and continued in April 2025.

Embedded parts were already delivered to site from the industrial partners Muhr and Global Hydro. Nonetheless, Installation will begin in Spring 2025 once the construction works are finished. Meanwhile, before the site works continue, the time will be used for test bench trials at Global Hydro’s premises related to the turbine.

We are looking for a successful installation and commissioning in Summer 2025 of the At-Bashy turbine.

On a path to strengthening transboundary tributary governance in Central Asia for better Nexus outcomes

IWMI is leading Hydro4U project activities related to accountability and benefits sharing in the context of the Water-Food-Energy-Climate (WFEC) nexus in Central Asia. While several important milestones have already been achieved, our ongoing activity related to the co-development of integrated cross-border policies for sustainable benefits sharing at tributary level in Central Asia may be of interest to a very broad audience.

What’s next on Open-source Educational Materials to Empower Future Water-Food-Energy-Climate (WFEC) Nexus Leaders of Central Asia

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), in collaboration with the Hydro4U project’s regional consortium partners TIIAME and KSTU, is actively involved in developing and disseminating open-source educational materials based on the project’s lessons learned and outcomes. While the Hydro4U project has produced numerous tools and assessments, ensuring their long-term utility requires effective dissemination and integration into broader applications.

New Scientific Publication on Water Tales from Turkistan: Challenges and Opportunities for the Badam-Sayram Water System under a Changing Climate

Our Hydro4U partners from Hydrosolutions GmbH and the Technical University of Munich recently published a paper titled “Water Tales from Turkistan: Challenges and Opportunities for the Badam-Sayram Water System under a Changing Climate.”

International Summer School 2024 at the Razzakov KSTU

The International Summer School ‘HydroKG’ was held at Razzakov KSTU from 28 July to 11 August 2024 with the support of DAAD Go East Programme/ Germany. It brought together 9 students from European countries, including students from the Universities of Kyrgyzstan KSTU and KRSU, and therefore all events were held in three languages: German, English and Russian.

Throughout the course of this year, we have welcomed a few more projects, clusters and initiatives into our existing network and are in constant exchange on developments and potential joint activities. 

Digital Hydropower Di-Hydro 2024 Wrap

The Di-Hydro project has made 1 year, being launched in October 2023 with the goal of advancing the digital transformation of hydropower plants (HPPs). Through innovative technologies, cutting-edge sensors, and advanced digital twins, Di-Hydro aims to enhance operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and decision-making processes within the hydropower sector. 

WE-ACT Showcased Transboundary Water Allocation Simulation and Tariff Systems in Central Asia

On 15 November 2024, WE-ACT brought together key stakeholders for a full-day workshop at the “Silk Road” conference hall in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event focused on transboundary water allocation simulation and irrigation water tariffs in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The day fostered collaboration, mutual learning, and actionable outcomes for water resource management in the Syr Darya river basin.

Horizon Europe project “ReHydro – Demonstration of sustainable hydropower refurbishment” is picking up steam

Funded by the European Union, ReHydro aims to demonstrate how European hydropower can be refurbished and modernized to play a leading role in the future energy system, while adhering to sustainability requirements and societal needs in the context of climate change. Within the framework of the project, several solutions such as a new, fish-friendly turbine design and monitoring tools will be tested on five main demonstration sites. 

• Hydropower Conference 2025, 24 – 26 March 2025, Liverpool, UK
• Renexpo Interhydro 2025, 27 – 28 March 2024, Salzburg, Austria
• 9th Annual International Congress and Exhibition: Hydropower Central Asia and Caspian, 9 - 10 April 2025 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
• HydroES 2025 Symposium on Hydropower and Environmental Sustainability, 17 – 18 September 2025, Grenoble, France

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