Institution news
Q: Could you briefly explain your role and involvement in hydropower?
Mike McWilliams (MM): I have 40 years of experience in engineering, most of which has been working in hydropower. I have been Head of Hydropower at Mott MacDonald, one of the leading international consultants in hydropower, and prior to that at Scott Wilson. My experience covers planning, design, procurement and construction of hydro projects in 70 countries. My specialisation is in planning, risk management and the commercial aspects of hydropower. I am currently an advisor to Mott MacDonald and to the World Bank on hydropower, and I am also Head of Energy at CEBR, one of London’s foremost economic consultancies.
Q: In your experience, what is the number one challenge facing engineers specialising in hydropower?
MM: The electricity industry is changing rapidly, with decarbonisation and the rapid expansion of other renewables. Hydropower engineers need to understand the role that hydropower plays in providing clean dispatchable energy, integrating other renewables and in multi-purpose projects.<
Q: What is the most exciting development in this field at the moment, either within your company or in the industry in general?
MM: Decarbonisation provides an exciting challenge for hydropower: there is growing recognition that it is difficult to fully decarbonise without the storage, integration and ancillary services provided by hydropower. Whereas 10 years ago major hydro, especially with storage, was vilified as being unsustainable, it is now widely recognised as a major contributor to clean, sustainable electricity systems, and is a key technology for delivering the 2 degree Paris commitments and the UN Sustainable Development goals.
Q:
What do you see for the future of hydropower development and engineering over the next five to ten years?
MM: If we get it right in terms of risk management, financing, regulatory mechanisms and optimal use of hydro sites, we can expect a boom in the industry. There will be a growing need for Greenfield conventional hydro and pumped storage, and for refurbishment and re-purposing of existing hydro. It is critical that we move away from trading energy, and recognise that the other services provided by hydro are equally important.
Q: What are you most looking forward to by attending this seminar?
MM: Hydro has a strong future which is not widely recognised.
Q: Which sessions are you most looking forward to hearing?
MM: There are good sessions planned for tidal and pumped storage, which should be an important part of the UK’s future energy mix.
Q: Why should hydropower engineers join this seminar?
MM: The seminar has a good forward-looking focus, and hydropower engineers need to understand that the future will be very different from the past.
Key programme highlights:
- First Hydro Company and Voith Hydro discuss the Ffestiniog pump storage refurbishment and modernisation project
- SSE Generation Development share a case study about the Coire Glas Pumped Storage scheme
- Tidal Lagoon Power share an update on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project
- Tidal Electric Ltd discusses the feasibility of building an offshore tidal lagoon power plant in the Solway
- Andritz Hydro talk about adding flywheel function to pumped storage
- Mott MacDonald share insights on the future of hydropower
For full details and to book your place, visit Hydropower Engineering: Technologies, Projects and Future Developments which takes place on 14 June 2018 at One Birdcage Walk in London.