Environmental

Meet the 2023 Hydro Hall of Fame inductees

Meet the 2023 Hydro Hall of Fame inductees
(Veduta esterna della centrale idroelettrica Esterle, illuminata nella notte, a Cornate d'Adda, in Italia, nel Marzo 2013.)

Three historic hydroelectric facilities – distinguished by their long service life and reliable production of electricity – were inducted into the Hydro Hall of Fame for 2023 during the opening keynote session of HYDROVISION International.

The Hydro Hall of Fame recognizes extraordinary achievement, with an emphasis on long-lasting facilities. Since 1995, 66 legacy hydropower plants have been inducted. Together, this prestigious group demonstrates the long-lasting and significant contributions of hydroelectric plants, including clean renewable power, emission-free generation and reliability.

This year’s three inductees are:

23 MW Carlo Esterle, owned by Edison Spa. The Carlo Esterle plant on the Adda River in Italy was constructed from 1910 to 1914. The plant is renowned for its architectural beauty and is an example of the evolution of the eclectic architecture tradition of Lombardy. It features exquisite embellishments, intricate geometric and floral motifs, columns and capitals at the entrance, wrought-iron lampposts and drainpipes, and Gothic-inspired glass walls. The plant has been revamped since 1998 and is modern in terms of technology, reliability and yield while respecting the integrity of the original structure.

132 MW Great Falls, owned by Manitoba Hydro. The Great Falls generating station on the Winnipeg River in Manitoba, Canada, is Manitoba Hydro’s second oldest hydroelectric station. Construction started in 1914, but that was halted by World War I. Work restarted in 1919 and the first generator went into service in late 1922. The plant was completed in 1928. In total, it contains six turbine-generator units and transmission lines provide power to Pine Falls, Selkirk, Winnipeg and nearby mines. Great Falls is still in service today, providing average annual generation of 750 million kWh.

2.4 MW Verdi owned by Truckee Meadows Water Authority. The Verdi hydroelectric plant on the Truckee River in the U.S. state of California was constructed in the early 1900s to supply electricity to Virginia City and its mines. This is a run-of-river plant and, with the other two hydro plants on that river, eliminates more than 90,500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions daily when all are running at capacity. Technological upgrades over the years have made management of the plant more efficient, but the turbines are original to the project.

Lignum Vitae North America was the sponsor of the 2023 Hydro Hall of Fame.

Each year, Clarion Energy reviews information on well over 100 historic hydro facilities before choosing the inductees. We will announce the opening of the call for nominations for 2024 Hydro Hall of Fame induction later this year.