Utility Energias de Portugal (EDP) awarded Reforco de Potencia da Barragem de Venda Nova III - ACE a 131 million euro (US$179 million) contract for civil construction of the 435-MW Venda Nova 3 pumped-storage hydro project in Portugal.

France's Nexans was awarded a 13 million Euros (US$17.64 million) contract to supply the power cables for the 1,000-MW Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern AG Limmern pumped-storage hydropower project under construction in Switzerland.

Hydro industry leaders will explore new developments, challenges and opportunities for pumped-storage hydropower as part of a session focusing on pumped-storage hydro during the Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America 2010 in Austin.

DSD Noell GmbH of Germany received a contract from Kraftwerke Linth – Limmern AG to design, supply and install two penstocks for the pumped-storage plant Linthal 2015 in Switzerland, DSD Noell reported.

The first unit of the Dnister Hydroelectric Power Plant - one of the largest pumped-storage hydro plants in the world - has been put into operation, the government reported.

With more than 127,000 MW of pumped-storage hydro capacity already operating around the globe, significant growth in the market is projected for the near future.

The National Hydropower association applauds officials for their input regarding pumped storage hydropower during a recent U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on grid-scale energy storage, the NHA said.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending 300 million euros (US$448.7 million) to Spanish utility Iberdrola to help finance three pumped-storage projects as expansions of existing hydro plants.

A Bosnia utility awarded four contracts totaling 2.9 million euros (US$4.3 million) to supply electrical equipment for the 430-MW Capljina pumped-storage project, one of Bosnia’s largest hydroelectric plants.

New York Power Authority President Richard M. Kessel said the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project has been returned to service amid a major overhaul designed to extend the life of the 1,160-MW hydroelectric facility.

French engineering company Alstom Hydro has been awarded a contract worth 178 million euros (US$263 million) to supply four 250-MW variable-speed pump turbine and motor generator units for a pumped-storage project in eastern Switzerland.

Swiss engineering company ABB Ltd. won a US$120 million contract from Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern AG for work on a pumped-storage project in eastern Switzerland.

AF Colenco, a subsidiary of AF Group, has been awarded a contract worth 27 million euros (US$39 million) to provide engineering services for a pumped-storage project in Switzerland.

Swiss energy company Raetia Energie AG said it will build a 1,000-MW pumped-storage project in Switzerland.

United Kingdom utility Scottish and Southern Energy plc said May 21, 2009, it plans to construct a 60-MW pumped-storage plant adjoining its 152-MW Sloy hydroelectric project near Loch Lomond in Scotland.