Flood Resilient Hydropower Station
In the remote, high-rainfall environment of Malekula, Vanuatu, flood protection is essential to keeping renewable energy flowing. As part of the new Brenwe Hydropower Station, AWMA’s FloodFree division custom-engineered flood barriers to safeguard this critical power facility against extreme weather events.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Vanuatu Government, the run-of-river hydropower station delivers 100% renewable energy to the Malekula grid, cutting diesel reliance and expanding electricity access from just 10% to over 50% of the island’s population.
To ensure uninterrupted power generation in the face of tropical cyclones, intense rainfall, and high-velocity river flows, FloodFree barriers were designed and manufactured to:
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Prevent floodwater ingress to the powerhouse during severe weather
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Reduce the risk of costly unplanned outages
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Withstand remote, challenging site conditions for long-term performance
By integrating robust flood protection into the hydropower station’s infrastructure, AWMA has helped deliver a renewable energy solution that is not only sustainable but also resilient, ensuring Malekula’s communities can rely on clean, consistent power for decades to come.
Congratulations to MAP Projects Ltd and the project partners for winning the National CCNZ Project Excellence Award (2025, $5M–$20M category) for the successful delivery of this project.
To ensure safe, reliable operation in the island’s challenging environmental conditions, AWMA delivered:
- An AWMA TLF isolation gate – designed to securely shut off water flow to the powerhouse during planned maintenance or emergencies, protecting valuable equipment.
- FloodFree Demountable Flood Barriers – engineered to shield the powerhouse from extreme weather events, including tropical cyclones and intense rainfall, reducing the risk of floodwater ingress and unplanned outages.
