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.

The programme was rich and varied. The participants visited large hydropower plants of Kyrgyzstan of the Naryn cascade in the southern region, such as Toktogul, Kurpsai, Kambar Ata-2, and in the northern region, they visited the small hydropower plants ‘Chakan Hydroelectric Power Station’ and the Ortotokoy reservoir in Issyk Köl. At the visiting sites, demonstration lectures were organised by employees of organisations, in which the students were able to acquire advanced knowledge in the fields of electrical engineering, energy, mechanics, hydraulic engineering, hydromorphology, hydropower plant management, ecology and geography.

The participants actively worked on projects in which they solved real problems in order to acquire new knowledge and apply it in practice. Theoretical lectures and workshops about the implementation of the Hydro4U project, its goals and objectives, about the work done and plans were conducted by lecturers of the Department ‘Hydropower Structures’, ‘Renewable Energy Sources’ of the KSTU as well as by partners of the Technical University of Munich, Germany in more detail.

The programmes of the International Summer School ‘HydroKG’ enabled the participants to explore new paths, acquire new knowledge and skills and also to work in an international team on exciting projects in Bishkek, Toktogul, Karakul, Balykchy and Cholpon Ata.

At the end of the International Summer School ‘HydroKG’, the administration of KSTU awarded certificates with international ECTS credits to all participants.

Author and picture credits: Venera Baichekirova, Head of the HydroKG summer school in Kyrgyzstan

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.”

https://doi.org/10.29258/CAJWR/2024-R1.v10-2/1-25.eng

Abstract:

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. The river basin is heavily influenced by manmade water infrastructure and faces water scarcity, particularly during summer, highlighting the importance of understanding its hydrological processes for effective water resource management. In this study, a semi-distributed conceptual hydrological model of the Badam River was implemented using the RS MINERVE hydrological software to evaluate the impacts of climate change on hydrology and to test the resilience of the water system. Connected HBV models were implemented for each of the hydrological response units that were defined as altitudinal zones. The hydrological model was calibrated using daily time steps between 1979 and 2011, and the resulting flow exceedance curves and hydrographs were used to assess the potential impacts of climate change on the basin, using CMIP6 precipitation and temperature scenarios. Future climate scenarios for the 2054 – 2064 period demonstrate that the peak discharge will be shifted to spring/late spring compared to the current early summer with no significant decrease in average discharge per day of the year. The insights gained from this hydrological-hydraulic model can be used to effectively manage the water system and inform future hydropower design decisions and serve as a blueprint for similar studies in the region and elsewhere.

On 11th July President of Uzbekistan, President Mirziyoyev, visited the Fergana region to participate in the “Ceremony dedicated to launching the construction of new projects in industry, energy and chemical fields in Fergana region”.

One of these new projects is the small hydropower plant at the Shakimardan river with the Francis Container Power Solution from GHE with a capacity of 2.2 Megawatt.

The ceremony itself took place in Fergana but a live video has been shown from two different small hydropower demo-sites, one is from the Hydro4U demo-site at the Shakimardan Village.

The head of the construction department at UGE, Mr Said Yusupov, announced that the Shakimardan HPP is ready for operation.

Hydro4U partners have contributed to this demonstration site with preparational work, technical design, ecological studies and the HPP Francis Container Power Solution and support on site.

An overview of the implemented technology is given on the website under: Demo 1 – Container Solution – Hydro4U  and an overview of the construction sites is explained on  this poster .

Further information:

Video about two small HPP from UGE out of which the one in Shakimardan Village is the one being the Hydro4U demo-site at the Shakimardan River: Official Launch of the Francis Container Power Solution in Shakimardan

Read more about the ceremony that took place on the 11^th July 2024:  Мирзиёев запустил строительство первой системы хранения электроэнергии (kun.uz)

Picture credits: UGE

The D-HYDROFLEX project is conducting a survey aiming to investigate the barriers that hinder the digitalisation of the hydropower plants and limit the potential of hydropower sector to provide flexibility. The questionnaire is structured upon 4 sections: (A) Participant profile, (B) Hydropower digitalization, (C) Hydropower flexibility, (D) Regulatory barriers to hydropower digitalization and flexibility.

The survey will be available through this link and should not take more than 10 minutes to complete: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUtT7prjjjIh-HIJIc-ir23swmTU8EMbAI80kDmo2tMjuj-w/viewform?pli=1

For further information visit: https://d-hydroflex.eu/

ETIP HYDROPOWER is pleased to announce the launch of the Virtual Postcard Summer Edition, inviting all stakeholders to participate in a photography initiative celebrating the synergy between hydropower facilities and their natural environments. This edition focuses on capturing the beauty, power, and sustainability of hydropower as it integrates seamlessly with the landscapes, highlighting the theme of summer.

Participants are encouraged to submit stunning images that reflect the essence of hydropower within its natural surroundings. These photographs will be used to convey summer greetings to all ETIP HYDROPOWER stakeholders and will be featured across all ETIP HYDROPOWER communication channels.

By showcasing the harmony between technology and nature, we hope to inspire greater appreciation and support for renewable energy solutions. We look forward to your contributions and to celebrating the vibrant spirit of summer through the lens of hydropower.

All entries must be received by 28 June 2024 no later than 11:59 PM CET

For further information visit: https://etip-hydropower.eu/latest-news/etip-hydropower-announces-virtual-postcard-summer-edition/ 

Sustainability is a crucial part of the developments in small-scale hydropower (SHP) in Central Asia, particularly ecological sustainability. Ecological impacts of SHP on aquatic ecosystems are numerous, such as hampered aquatic animal migration, altered flow regimes (reduced flow, fast flow changes), changed river morphology (sediment retention, increased embeddedness), habitat fragmentation or changes in physical-chemical water quality parameters. Investigations were performed by the consortium of partners from Europe: BOKU (Austria), EVINBO (Belgium), Hydrosolutions (Switzerland) and SJE
(Germany) in cooperation with the local partner TIIAME (Uzbekistan) in the demonstration sites Shakimardan at Koksu River in Uzbekistan, and Atbashy close to Naryn City at Atbashy river in Kyrgyzstan with a focus on the mitigation of ecological impacts.

Check out the full newsletter article here

The International Summer School organised by Hydro4U project partner KSTU enters a new round this year, putting special focus on the topic of Hydropower, Ecology and Hydro morphology in Kyrgyzstan.

This year’s Summer School will take place from 28.07. – 11.08.2024 at the Kyrgyz State Technical University (KSTU) in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic and is open to Bachelor and Master Students, Aspirants/PhD Students or young Researchers.

The Summer School will be held in English/German and consists of a variety of Events and Seminars such as Lectures, Russian or Kyrgyz language course as well as Excursions: 4 Micro Hydropower plants in Chui Region will be visited; including big Power stations in South Region of Kyrgyzstan: Toktogul, Kurp-Sai, Kambar-Ata and in the North Region of Kyrgyzstan: Orto Tokoi, (Naryn/Kotschkor). In addition, there will also be a cultural program (Ala-Archa, Burana, Issyk Kul, Cholpon-Ata, Petroglyph, Son Kul, Naryn, etc.).

The prerequisites for being part of the 2024 Summer School is being a student enrolled in civil or environmental engineering, power or hydro stations, which are currently in their Bachelor/Master degree. Especially young engineers are addressed who already have an engineering background in water related topics. Engineering students and related subjects with a keen interest in the topic and in the region of Kyrgyzstan can also apply.

The application deadline for DAAD scholarships ends on May 31 2024 and for Self-Funding Applications on June 15 2024.

If you are interested in applying for this year’s Summer School, please send in your CV alongside your photo as well as a 1 page Motivation letter and the completed Application form via E-Mail: kstusummerschool[at]gmail.com with venerabk[at]gmail.com in cc.

Further information:

Scholarship: GoEast Program of DAAD can funded about 6 student of a German university’s.

Participation fee: 1.200 € (including all costs for the Summer School program, except for air travel- visa – medical insurance).

Students of a German university can apply for a scholarship in parallel to their registration at the summer school “Kyrgyzstan – Hydropower, Ecology and Hydro morphology”.

Information for a DAAD scholarship: https://www.daad.de/de/im-ausland-studieren-forschen-lehren/sprachen-lernen-sommerkurse-im-ausland/

Self-Funding students from other countries can also take part in the summer school.There are no restrictions.

Other: The participants of the summer school to get a certificate of the Kyrgyz State Technical University (5 ECTS and a grade).

13 Partners from 8 European and Central Asian countries are collaborating to boost sustainable small-scale hydropower in Central Asia, including “TIIAME” National Research University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This project, demonstrating viability in a forward-looking cross-border water-food-energy-climate nexus has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation under grant agreement No 101022905. After almost 3 years of the start of the project activities in June 2021, the first in Central Asia ecologically sustainable hydropower plant equipped with most up-to date and eco-friendly European equipment and technologies and a fish pass, as well as downstream fish protection and migration facilities based on “Nature based solutions” was build up in Koksu River Shakhimardan exclave of Uzbekistan and ready for launch and operation.

During road construction works in 1970 – 1971 along the river Koksu the river bed was changed and banks modified. This resulted in an artificial waterfall of approx. 3.5 m height an insurmountable fish migration barrier in the river since no fish were observed upstream of the waterfall during the spring and autumn electrofishing surveys in 2021 and 2022. Following recommendations of Hydro4U-scientists this waterfall was demolished in 2024.

It should be noted that feasibility study and all the equipment necessary for the construction of this hydroelectric power plant and their installation and putting into operation of the hydroelectric power plant were paid for and implemented at the expense of the funds of the Hydro4U project. In particular, 2 Francis Container Power Solution (FCPS) with discharge of 1,6m³/s each Turbine and a maximum Power-Output of 1167kW each. The annual Power Output is equal to 11380Mwh – based on a rated flow auf 2,4m³/s. The project partner JSC “Uzbekhydroenergo” company paid and build most of the infrastructure.

Author: Prof., Dr. Bakhtiyor Karimov, Project Supervisor of the TIIAME NRU Team, Uzbekistan

Picture credits: Iana Kopecki, SJE

More than 120 researchers, scientists, representatives of research institutes, universities and other organisations working in the field of sustainable energy gathered at the regional workshop “Horizon Europe in Central Asia: Promoting Research Excellence and Collaboration for Sustainable Energy”. This workshop took place in the frame of the “Sustainable Development Solutions Network Conference” in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Partner ILF presented the Hydro4U success story: https://secca.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ilyas-Aidyngaliyev-ENG-.pdf 

The workshop was organised jointly by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network of Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University, Science Fund of Kazakhstan, the European Union (EU) funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” and Chevron.

For further information visit: https://secca.eu/horizon-europe-regional-workshop-140524/

On October 17, Hydro4U project partner TIIAME NRU met with representatives of the German Ministry of Education and Research, discussing the state and prospects of cooperation in the field of scientific and potential development aimed at solving current problems of the world and the region.

The meeting was held between the head of the university and the delegation led by Gabriele Hermani, the head of the Department of Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia of the German Ministry of Education and Research. In addition, Dr. Rudolph Smolarshik, Head of the Central Asian Department of the Council of Rectors of German Higher Education Institutions, Dr. Stefan Schwartze, Head of the German Geosciences Research Center (GFZ_Potsdam), Dr. Abror Gafurov, Chief Research Officer of the research center, and the leader of the Zalf Research Center, Researcher Dr. Akhmad Khamidov, Researcher of IAMO Scientific Center Nodirbek Djanibekovs participated in the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached on current and priority directions and approaches for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Read the full article available in UZ and EN

Author and picture credits: TIIAME