Background

Modernising the ageing hydropower fleet is critical to extend their lifetime, improve performance and safety, and to guarantee reliable and low-cost hydropower in the future energy mix.

In Asia, hydropower projects will play a key role in supporting emerging economies, meeting renewable energy targets and balancing increasing levels of variable wind and solar resources.

By 2030, over a third of existing hydropower capacity across Asia will have undergone, or be due for, modernisation. This figure rises to over half the current fleet when not accounting for China. While some older capacity has been modernised, there remain plants in need of renewal and investment over the coming years.

Webinar summary

Modernisation offers opportunities for hydropower operators to make technology upgrades and implement measures to improve sustainability and climate resilience.

To help identify these opportunities, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has recently partnered with the International Hydropower Association (IHA) to study the modernisation needs for hydropower stations in the region.

During the webinar, hosted by IHA in partnership with the AIIB, IHA members and partners will hear:

• An introduction to AIIB’s priorities, energy strategy, investments and experiences to date in the hydropower sector in Pakistan, Tajikistan and Nepal.
• A presentation by IHA on modernisation and introducing the study focusing on its scope, methodology and aims.
• How members and partners can get involved in the study by providing inputs and feedback as well as answer any questions regarding the study and AIIB.

The webinar is open to IHA members and selected partner organisations.

It will take place at 10:00 BST on Thursday 12 September 2019, lasting one hour.

About the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes and bring countries together to bridge the huge investment gap in Asia and beyond. Headquartered in Beijing, AIIB began operations in January 2016 and has now grown to 100 approved members worldwide. Find out more.

For members to register for the webinar, please contact us.

Presenter biographies

Courtney Lowrance

Courtney Lowrance is a Principal Environment Specialist at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a new multilateral financial institution founded in 2015 to bring countries together to address the daunting infrastructure needs across Asia. She is responsible for addressing the environmental dimensions of policies, programs, projects, and technical assistance provided by the AIIB. Previously, Courtney was the global head of Citi’s Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) group.  In this capacity, she represented the Equator Principles Association from 2008-2010 in the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Forum, which culminated in the launch of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol in 2010.  She has 20 years of experience integrating international environmental and social standards into various financial products (project finance, corporate loans, debt and equity underwritings, and trade finance).  

David Morgado

David Morgado is a Senior Energy Policy Specialist at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He is responsible for supporting the implementation of AIIB’s Sustainable Energy Strategy, identifying investment opportunities and assisting with project preparation. Previously heworked at the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Energy Efficiency in Emerging Economies Programme to scale-up of energy efficiency activities that generate economy-wide benefits with governments from major emerging economies including Brazil, India and Mexico. Before joining the IEA, David worked for the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) in Thailand, as an Energy Specialist and Project Manager, providing technical assistance to governments, utilities and international development agencies including the ADB, World Bank, IFC, UNDP, UN Environment and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. His work covered energy efficiency, demand-side management and renewable energy across Asia-Pacific and Africa. David Morgado is an Environmental Engineer with MSc in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh.

David Samuel

David Samuel is Hydropower Sector Analyst at IHA. He joined our knowledge building team in October 2017. His work focuses on building and sharing knowledge on global hydropower, working on topics such as plant modernisation and regional interconnection. Before joining IHA, David worked for almost four years as development engineer at a global engineering consultancy, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, in thermal power generation, and spent a year at Highview Power Storage. At WSP, David focused on plant performance, cost and due diligence studies of IPP power projects, typically combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT), and also on techno-economic analysis for the UK Industry Decarbonisation Roadmaps 2050. At Highview, he worked on thermo-mechanical storage innovation. David previously completed a traineeship at the European Investment Bank (EIB) and holds a master's degree from the UCL Energy Institute.

Nicholas Troja

Nicholas Troja is Senior Hydropower Sector Analyst at IHA. He joined the hydropower development work programme in 2016.  His work focuses on building and sharing knowledge on global hydropower, including identifying trends in project financing, policies and market dynamics. Before joining IHA, Nick worked for the UK’s steel industry focusing on the EU Emissions Trading System and the impact of other EU level climate change and energy policies on the sector. Prior to this he worked for the UK’s department of energy and climate change, covering a wide range of policy areas and as an adviser to the shadow minister for emissions trading and climate change in Canberra. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international business and master’s degree in public policy.  

IHA Knowledge Network

IHA members interested in exchanging experiences and best practices on modernisation programmes can join our Asset Management Knowledge Network.

The network can be accessed in Hydropower Pro, our online member community.

Contact us

Please contact IHA analyst David Samuel at david.samuel@hydropower.org