Hydro 2008

There is renewed impetus worldwide for hydropower development, as new policies developed in recent years are leading to concrete actions. Greater sensitivity to environmental issues, improved communications with stakeholders, and innovative approaches to project financing have all played a role.
But many challenges remain: water and energy needs in the less developed countries make accelerated development essential. Worldwide, more complex sites have to be tackled, making safety issues critical. Uncertainties about climate change have implications for the planning of water infrastructure. The elegant city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, in the heart of southern Europe, has been chosen as a central meeting point to discuss global hydropower development at HYDRO 2008. Delegates will assemble from Africa, Asia, Australasia, the Americas and of course all parts of Europe. Development needs will be outlined, and all practical aspects for meeting those needs (technical, financial, social and environmental) will be discussed over three days during the Conference. International companies will have the opportunity to demonstrate their products and services at the Technical Exhibition, and Tours to multipurpose dams, hydro plants and pumped-storage schemes will follow the Conference. Emphasis will be on furthering the implementation of well planned hydro schemes in all parts of the world, and also on maximizing the value of existing hydro plants by timely refurbishment and upgrading.

HYDRO 2008 will be the 15th annual Hydro Conference to be organized by Aqua~Media
International, in partnership with NetWork Events. The events have progressively increased in size
and scope, and typically bring together delegations from more than 70 countries. The majority of
delegates represent owners and operators; others are consulting engineers, financial institutions,
contractors, researchers, equipment suppliers, and various specialists involved in the planning
process. There is thus a constructive exchange of experience between countries at various stages
in their hydropower development programmes.

Previous Conferences in this series have taken place in: Budapest, Hungary (1994); Barcelona, Spain (1995); Lausanne, Switzerland (1996); Portoroz, Slovenia (1997); Aix en Provence, France (1998); Gmunden, Austria (1999); Berne, Switzerland (2000); Riva del Garda, Italy (2001); Kiris, Turkey (2002); Dubrovnik, Croatia (2003); Porto, Portugal (2004); Villach, Austria (2005); Porto Carras, Greece (2006); and, Granada, Spain (2007).

The most recent event, HYDRO 2007, attracted nearly 1000 international participants from 73 countries (more than half being developing countries). High level delegations from the developing countries report on their needs and priorities; international finance institutions and development agencies set out their policies, and all those with a role of play in furthering well planned schemes join the debate. Plenary sessions feature keynote addresses and country reports; there are then
several parallel tracks of sessions - generally covering: planning, project finance and economics; environmental and social aspects; and technology (civil engineering issues, innovations and developments in electromechanical equipment). In addition, there are workshops, inter-active debates, and regular side events hosted by national and international professional associations. The Exhibition provides an opportunity to review recent developments in technology and design techniques. A full cultural and social programme, including receptions, a concert, dinners, and lunches served together for all participants, will provide extra networking opportunities over the three days in Ljubljana.


Abstracts are now invited on the themes below and related topics. Please note these are not the final session titles, which will be determined after submitted abstracts have been reviewed. When submitting an abstract, please suggest the main subject category to which you feel it is best suited.

REVIEW OF WORLD HYDRO NEEDS
• Hydro and the Millennium Development Goals
• Development potential in Africa, Asia and Latin America

POLICY AND PLANNING
• Trends in renewable energy policy
• Hydro to achieve energy security
• Assessing and comparing development options
• Reducing bureacracy in green field hydro development
• Dialogue and decision making
• Integrated regional development
• Economic modelling
• Site surveying and national assessments

FINANCING STRATEGIES
• New financing models
• Private development experience
• Qualifying schemes for carbon credits
• Recent success stories

RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
• Meeting renewable energy targets
• Hydro with wind and/or solar systems

HYDRO MACHINERY
• Designing turbines to meet demanding conditions
• R&D for improved operation and efficiency
• Electrical equipment

PUMPED STORAGE
• Role of pumped storage in a mixed system
• Economics and technology
• Ultra high-head schemes

CLIMATE CHANGE
• Research and uncertainties
• Implications for water infrastructure
• Actions for flood and drought mitigation

HYDROLOGY
• Advanced simulations of PMP and PMF events
• Flood warning and mitigation methods
• Reservoir operation

SEDIMENTATION MANAGEMENT
• Design and project layout to avoid problems
• Protecting machinery

CIVIL ENGINEERING
• Designing for adverse conditions: geology, climate
• Seismic design of dams, hydro plants and gateworks
• Tunnelling challenges and achievements
• Hydro in remote areas
• Alkali aggregate reaction in dams and powerplants
• Dam safety: review of national regulations
• Spillways: innovation in design
• Project layout: economics and efficiency
• Materials handling at large/remote sites

REFURBISHMENT AND UPGRADING
• Economic benefits of refurbishment
• Scheduling upgrading schemes
• Case studies demonstrating innovation
• Upgrading to enhance safety
• Maintenance issues

SMALL AND MICRO HYDRO
• Small hydro for rural electrification
• Reducing engineering costs
• Safety standards at small hydro plants
• Appropriate technology for rural areas
• Advances in small hydro machinery

SOCIAL ASPECTS
• Local consultations: assessment of communication methods
• Benefit sharing and equity partnerships
• Integration of local capacity in joint ventures
• Quantifying multiple benefits of hydro for society
• Multipurpose benefits: case studies
• Training local communities at project sites

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
• Reservoirs and landscape enhancement
• Residual flows
• Protecting water quality
• Fish passage
• Aesthetics of dams and powerplant design
• Flora and fauna; animal rescue

SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
• Hydro in a mixed system
• Operation and control systems
• Managing hydro assets
• Developments in software