The current operating results (hourly and daily results) of the hydroelectric power plants Fisching and Arnstein can be downloaded form STEWAG´s homepage under the heading Live Power. (iwr)

An overview of all hydroelectric power plants that are operated by VEW can be downloaded form the homepage of VEW Energy Corp.  This overview can be found on the pages which provide information on and by VEW.  Click on the heading Unternehmen und Zahlen/VEW Energie AG (Companies & Figures/VEW ENergy Corp.).

The hydrological year 1998 begun with a low precipitation yield of only 28.1 mm at the site Climatic Measuring Field Münster. This yield was significantly below the long-term average value of the last 30 years, which reached 64 mm. In total the precipitation yield of the hydrological year 1997 at the site in Münster, which only amounted to roughly 670 mm, was 11% below the long-term annual average value of approximately 750 mm. Further information on the annual distribution of the precipitation can be downloaded under the heading Precipitation Data. (iwr)

Information on the company "Burger GmbH" from Engetried in Bavaria can be downloaded under the internet address http:/www.burger-wasserkraft.com. The company is concerned with the construction, repairs, and the modernization of hydroelectric power plants. It also sells mechanical, electronical, and hydraulic components. (iwr)

Internet users who are interested in hydro power can download a virtual tour through the hydroelectric power plant Walchensee from the Internet pages. A prerequisite for the tour is the installation of the software "Quick Time VR", which is available on the webpage of the Bayernwerke.  The virtual tour can be started via the internet address: http:/www.bayernwerk.de/pages/virtwass/virtwaev.htm. (iwr)

After under-average precipitation values were measured at the location "Climatic Measuring Field Münster" in August and September, the precipitation value measured in October, which amounts to 64 mm, eventually rose significantly above the long-term monthly average value for the last 30 years (49.8 mm).  Further information concerning the annual distribution of precipitation of the hydrological years 96/97 and 95/96 can be downloaded under the heading Precipitation Data. (iwr)

Siemens Power Corp. (SPC), a member of Siemens Power Plant Union (KWU), received an order from Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), one of the biggest federal power supply companies in the U.S., to modernize the entire instrumentation and control technology of 29 hydroelectric power plants in Tennessee. Apart from that the automation of power plants in Cherokee, Douglas, Fontana, and Norris and in addition to equipping a master of a power plant in Chattanooga, the contract also includes an opportunity for SPC to modernize instrumentation and control technology in other TVA hydroelectric power plants. The total volume of the contract, including the opportunity for modernizing other TVA power plants, adds up to US-$ 20 million. (iwr)

A river dam is supposed to be built at the Yellow River in China in order to regulate the flow of water and to reduce sludge accumulation. In addition to that this river dam is supposed to be used for irrigation purposes and for the generation of water power.

The city of Bad Oeynhausen´s comittee for the environment requested the municipal authorites to examine the possibilities for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant at the floodgate weir at Werre River. The state health resort is the owner of the floodgate weir. In talks with the state health resort and the electricity generation plants Minden-Ravensberg the municipal authorities are supposed to discuss the possibilities for the foundation of an operating company and for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant. 

The operating corporation "WKA Dasselpark GBR" is looking for participants (granting loans) in order to re-build the hydroelectric power plant in Warstein-Allagen in the Sauerland. The total costs for the project will be DM 867,000. With an initial interest of DM 3,000 one can participate in the project. Further information can be obtained from Erich Kaup (phone number: ++49-(0)2902/714858).

Precipitation gauges for Septemebr recorded only 12.9 mm at the location "Climatic Measuring Field Münster". This value is extremely below the monthly average value for the last 30 years, which amounts to 60.8 mm. Further information concerning the annual distribution of precipitation can be downloaded under the heading precipitation data. (iwr)

The municipal authorities department Ulm/Neu-Ulm (SWU) is planning the construction of a new hydroelectric power plant at the Iller. At present SWU covers 10% of the power demand of its customers with water power. The estimated annual power production of the planned power plant is 12.5 miillion kWh. Unless the planning and investigation process raises problems, the construction of the power plant can be begun in September of 1998. (iwr)

According to a report by VDEW the water power production for the first half of 1997 increased and was 11% higher than it had been in the same time span last year. In total, a power yield increase of 9.9 billion kWh was generated between January and June. In particular the precipitation values for the first half of 1997, that were higher than last year´s (because of only little rain in 1996) and that met the long-term annual average value, can serve as an explanation for this increase in power production. (iwr)

From now on IWR´s Hydro Power Research Group can be contacted via its own e-mail address. The address is: fgwasser@uni-muenster.de. (iwr)

In September VEW Energie and three residents living at the waterfall Hanekenfähre/Ems founded a mutual corporation in order to realize an ecologically compatible water power project at the Ems river. The interesting thing about this project is that it will try to integrate the turbine and the generator into an already existing stop plank valve. Hence, most parts of this system are below the surface of the water: Changes of the waterfall`s outer appearance should also be avoided. Besides, neither the flow chraracteristics nor the river`s floor will be affected because of the chosen technology. Therefore, the permeability of the Ems can be maintained. Moreover, interested citizens can acquire shares of the project (5,000-20,000 DM) in becoming limited partners. iwr

The precipitation gaging at the "Climatic Measurement Field Münster" showed that the precipitation value for August, which reached only 44.6 mm, was extremely low with respect to the average value of the last 30 years. The updated chart can be downloaded under the heading precipitation data. iwr

According to VEDW reports the water power yield of 1996 reached only 16.2 billion kWh due to the lack of sufficient precipitation. The yield of 16.2 billion kWh is equivalent to 3.5% of the supply network fed by the public power providers.

Investigations by the U.N. and the World Energy Council lead to the result that the global capacity of usable water power reaches a value of 2.36 million MW. Only 606,000 MW are currently made use of. According to reports by Siemens-KWU, South America, Asia, and Africa possess the largest capacities for extending the use of water power. Siemens KWU's chief executive officer, Mr. Hüttl, expects an increase of 11,000 to 13,000 MW for the global volume of orders annually.

At the Institut für Strömungsmechanik und Hydraulische Strömungsmaschinen (IHS) (institute for flow mechanics and hydraulic flow machines) at the University Stuttgart a one-day seminar about the use of small hydro power systems will take place on October 10th. Besides topical developments on the field of technology planning aspects as well as the new bulding and the modernization of small hydro power systems by EC-sponsoring programmes are topics of the conference. The beginning of the event is at 9.00 h. Further information can be obtained from the following address: IHS Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 10, 70550 Stuttgart, tel.: ++49 711-685-3260.

Till the year 2000 the German federal state Bavaria intends to extend the share of renewable sources of energy to 13% of the total consumption of energy. Especially the hydro power, covering 5% of the total consumption of energy, plays an important role. 1996 15-16% of the public power supply in Bavaria were met by hydro power plants. Besides the preservation and extension of hydro power plants it is also planned to build new plants.

Under the heading precipitation data / measuring locations for precipitation an updated chart with the average monthly precipitation value for July of 1997 can be downloaded. The value of 79 mm is slightly below the average monthly precipitation value for the last 30 years.

A syndicate, consisting of the Swiss ABB Kraftwerke A.G. and the Italian Sulzer Hydro De Pretto Escher-Wyss, has obtained the contract to build a hydro power plant at the river Zamanti in Anatolia. The total budget of the contract amounts to about 25 million DM. ABB supplies three generators with 31,5 MW power each; the turbines are delivered from Sulzer Hydro De Pretto Escher-Wyss. It is planned to start the regular opening of the power plant in 1999.

During the overall-redevelopment of the more than 70-year-old hydro power plant Mühltal at the river Isar, costing 45 million DM, three new 4,5 MW-Francis-Turbines were installed recently. The efficiency of the turbines lies at about 93%. Altogether the costs for the new turbines including mounting and removal of the old turbines amount to about 5 million DM.

The Slowene supply company Sotschke electrarne intends to build two new hydro power plants at the river Sotscha. 60% of the supposed investment costs of altogether 206 million DM shall be financed by foreign sources.

A new, improved and modernized, hydroelectric power plant was tested near Donaueschingen. The Institute for Electrical Engineering of the University of Karlsruhe developed the concept upon which this new hydroelectricc power plant is based. In order to raise the efficiency rate and to operate the system economically efficiently, this modernized system works without a transmission. The first results in operating this system show that this new concept is expected to increase the power efficiency up to 15 or 20%.

VEW wants to start constructing a new hydroelectric power plant at the Lippe river in Hamm-Uentrop. The power plant is supposed to generate a performance rate of 2.7 million kW annually. The system will make use of a new turbine that can do without any lubrication based on oil or grease. The lubrication of the bearings will be based on water instead, just as it is done in the modern shipbuilding industry. The construction of a path for eels, as well as steps and a net for the fish, show that ecological aspects have been taken into consideration by VEW.

In the old watermill on the farm Schulze Wierling in Billerbeck-Beerlage at the river Aa there is electricity produced with a 18 kW-Francis-Turbine for some weeks now. About 50% of the electricity produced shall be used for private energy consumption for the pig- and bull fattening. The remaining share will be fed into the public net of the VEW. An average annual generation of electricity between 50.000 and 60.000 kWh will be expected.

The seminar conference Hydro Power Plants will take place on June 8th and 9th in the Astron Hotel Aquarena in Heidenheim. Areas of interest are revision on turbines, optimizing and modernizing and questions about financing and insurances. You can obtain further information under the adress WKA-Anlagenbau GmbH, Badenbergerstraße 20, 89520 Heidenheim, Tel.:++49-(0)7321/969214.

Under the internet adress http:/www.fwee.org/Tours.html a tour of the FWEE (Foundation for Water and Energy Education) through the different components of a hydro power plant can be recalled from the internet. Also you can obtain further information about hydro power in short form under this adress.

Due to a growing electricity consumption in Brazil the government supports a further extension of 22 hydro power stations with some $ 2.5 billion. Building these stations was stopped due to lack of money. 95 % of Brazils power supply is based on hydro power. To bridge the gap of power supply, the Brazilian Industry Association advices its members to use alternative resources besides hydro power like for example coal,oil, gas, alcohol and bio-energy.

Information on selected hydro power stations in Scotland are available at: 

http:/www.hydro.co.uk/power/power.htm

From September 15th to 17th the conference on water power 'Hydropower into the next Century - II' takes place in Portoroz, Slovenia. This conference, following the1995 conference topics from Barcelona, deals with technical, financial, environmental and administrative aspects of the use of water power.

The manufacturer for water power turbines Walcher can be found under 

http:/www.walcher.com 

on the Internet now. Apart from information on water power, the Walcher's range of products and services is available there.

Germany's hydroelectric power stations have produced 19.4 billion in 1996, which was a year of low-precipitation.This is 9% less energy in 1996 compared to 21.4 billion kWh in 1995.

In Warendorf a hydroelectric power station has been instlled which uses a waterwheel manufactured by BEGA Wasserkraftanlagen GmbH from Bochum. The wheel's diameter is 5 meter; the maximum output of 14 kW is reached at water amounts of 400 l / s. The advantage of waterwheels over turbines is the fact that waterwheels can be used at locations with low heads or heavy changes in the water level.

The precipitation graph for March 1997 is now available under Hydro power potential, Precipitation data.

Since 1988 the City Department Münster makes use of hydro power from the river Werse in a pilot project at the Havichhorst Mill. The hight of the water level at this mill with 100 kW output is 3.9 meter. Of the DM 920.000 total costs a subsidy of DM 170.000 was given. The turbine has an average 300.000 kW to 400.000 kWh output per annum. The energy output remains therefore considerably under the forecast of 500.000 kWh. 

The address of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wasserkraftwerke Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has changed. The new address is: 

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wasserkraftwerke Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V. Ludwigsluster Chaussee 519370 ParchimTel: 03871-621720; Fax: 038771-621727 

The Wasserkraft Volk GmbH from Simonswald in Baden-Württemberg is now present on this energy-server and provides information on the company and its range of products under Hydro Sector, Companies, Topical Company. 

The precipitation measurement on the climatological measuring area Münster have resulted in 105.1mm. With this result, February is far above average compared to the below-average data for January (4.5mm).

The Wasserkraft und Regenerative Energieentwicklung AG (WRE) in Frankfurt plans the erection of small hydroelectric power stations at rivers in Calabria / Italy. These projects shall be subsidized with DM 17 million from the EC and the Italian government.

China plans to extend the use of hydroelectric capacities. Besides the three-canyon-project (18.200 MW output), some 40 additional hydroelectric power stations are either under construction or planned with output data ranging from 250 to 12.000 MW (total output: 60.000 MW). At the Yalong river, a tributary of the Yangtze, a 3.300 MW hydroelectric power station is under construction; two more 3.000 MW projects shall be realised in the medium term.

Since yesterday information on Bioenergy is available on the IWR’s server besides the areas Wind, Solar and Hydro Power.

In 1995 the installed storage power stations and run-through power stations covered 59% of Switzerlands electricity generation. Of the 208 dams and river dams listed in the dam-index by the Schweizerischer Wasserwirtschaftsverband 191 are designed for the electricity generation.

Schleswag AG, the energy provider from Schleswig-Holstein, has made an application for a price increase of 4% at the energy ministry of Schleswig-Holstein for the 1st of April. This increase was justified with extra costs of 80 million DM for grid-fed electricity from wind energy in 1996 alone for the Schleswag AG.