Voith Highlights Success, Hydropower's Future at Hydrovision International

LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Voith, a leading full-line supplier of hydropower equipment and services, highlighted its recent success and progress in expanding abundant, renewable, reliable, and affordable hydropower generation across the United States at Hydrovision International 2012.  Notably, the conference is taking place just a short walk from the Ohio River, where Voith is supplying turbines, generators, and automation equipment for American Municipal Power (AMP) Inc.'s projects at existing locks and dams along the river, which represent one of the largest current investments in hydropower in the United States.  The conference is also occurring on the heels of major hydropower legislation passing through the U.S. Congress.

"These are exciting times not only for Voith, but the hydropower industry as a whole," said Voith Hydro President and CEO Kevin Frank.  "Hydro projects are being developed across the country, including both upriver and downriver from Louisville, providing Americans with clean, renewable energy and boosting the local and national economy.  Hydropower is an abundant, renewable, reliable, and affordable source of power generation and will continue to help the United States meet its energy demands.  Voith looks forward to its continued leadership in hydropower generation, as well as expanding the deployment of renewable energy across the country."

In addition to progress on AMP's projects, Voith has seen other projects advance and was awarded a major new contract earlier this year.  In February, Voith moved the first 150-ton turbine destined for the Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River, which will double PPL's capacity and provide power for 100,000 additional households.  In April, Voith was awarded the contract for the Red Rock Hydroelectric plant in Iowa, which will generate 55MW for the joint venture between Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency and Missouri River Energy Services. 

At Hydrovision, Voith Hydro announced that it has combined its Aftermarket Business Division with Peak Hydro Services (formerly Weldmart) to create Voith Hydro Services, a one-stop shop and full-service provider for turbine and generator parts and repair.  Voith Hydro Services will operate in three locations across the United States – Springfield, OR, York, PA, and Chattanooga, TN – providing its customers with unmatched service in the aftermarket hydropower field.

On the legislative front, last week the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act, which would boost small hydro and conduit projects in the U.S. and help to reduce the timeline for FERC's licensing process for non-powered dams and closed-loop pumped storage projects.  The bill's sponsor, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA), said, "[hydropower] represents a unique opportunity for job creation and energy production.  It's clean, reliable, renewable and affordable."  The legislation is similar to the Hydropower Improvement Act, which passed out of a Senate committee last year.  Addressing the FERC licensing process to reduce permitting times remains one of the top priorities for the hydropower industry.

Hydropower is available in every part of the United States, employing approximately 300,000 workers nationwide and providing 30 million U.S. households with clean and affordable American-made energy.  However, the country has only scratched the surface of hydropower's potential.  There are approximately 80,000 dams in the U.S. that do not produce power.  A 2009 study found that with the right policies in place, such as the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act, the United States can create 1.4 million cumulative jobs by 2025 by maximizing these non-powered dams and existing hydropower infrastructure and developing pumped storage and new marine and hydrokinetic technologies, adding 60,000 MW of electricity to the nation's electric grid.

About the Company

Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transportation & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs almost 40,000 people, generates euro 5.6 billion in sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is today one of the biggest family-owned companies in Europe.

Voith Hydro is a Group Division of Voith and - with a workforce of approx. 5,300 employees and a sales volume of more than 1.2 billion Euros in the business year 2010/2011 – belongs to the world-wide leading companies for hydro power equipment. In the United States, Voith Hydro is headquartered in York, PA and employs over 500 people.

The Importance of Hydropower

Hydropower is the largest, oldest and most reliable form of renewable energy generation. Worldwide, it makes an indispensable contribution to stable power supplies and hence to economic and social development - both in industrial countries and in emerging markets. Hydropower also makes a significant contribution to climate-protecting energy production. Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology from the early beginning and continuously develops it further.

CONTACT: Lewis Lowe
706-302-8404
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SOURCE Voith