In the “Voices of Hydro” series, hydropower industry leaders provide insights on opportunities and challenges within the sector and the measures their organisations are taking to advance sustainability. These stories shed light on the people who keep our lights on, supply affordable energy and protect communities from floods and droughts.

This edition features Abhishek Pandey, the Hydro sector lead in AECOM, who discusses the importance of refurbishment, sustainability and flexibility in the hydropower sector.

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your role.

I’m Abhishek Pandey, the Western Canada Hydro Market Sector Lead at AECOM, and I have built a career in hydropower over the past two decades. My experience spans engineering, project management, commissioning, and leadership roles on projects ranging from new developments to complex rehabilitation and modernization programs.

Working across various regions, organizations, and project environments has given me a broad perspective on what makes hydro projects successful. While I often encounter significant technical challenges, I have learned that the most enduring lessons come from collaboration, knowledge transfer, and bringing together diverse teams to solve complex problems. In my current role, I focus on helping clients across Western Canada advance hydropower opportunities, leveraging insights gained from a wide range of hydro projects throughout my career.

What attracted you to the hydropower sector?

I have always been fascinated by how engineering can be used to solve real world problems. During my studies, I developed a particular interest in electrical machines and power generation.  Hydropower quickly stood out because it combined technical complexity with a very visible impact on people's lives.

What appealed to me most was the longevity of the work. Few engineers have the opportunity to contribute to infrastructure that can serve communities for generations.

Looking back, it was the right choice. Over the past two decades, hydropower has given me opportunities to work on challenging projects in different parts of the world, learn from talented people with diverse perspectives, and continuously grow both professionally and personally.

What are some of the key challenges facing hydropower in Canada today?

Canada's hydropower sector is at an interesting point. Electricity demand is growing, existing assets require ongoing renewal and modernization, and utilities across the country are evaluating significant investments in generation, storage, transmission, and grid infrastructure.

From my perspective, one of the biggest challenges is delivery capacity. The scale of investment being contemplated over the next couple of decades is substantial, and delivering that work will require experienced engineers, project managers, constructors, commissioning specialists, and operators. At the same time, a significant amount of industry knowledge is approaching retirement, making knowledge transfer and workforce development increasingly important.

Another challenge is that hydro projects are rarely just engineering projects. They involve environmental stewardship, Indigenous partnerships, regulatory processes, community interests, and long planning horizons. Successfully navigating those elements requires collaboration, trust, and a long-term perspective from everyone involved.

The opportunity for Canada is tremendous. The question is how efficiently we can move priority projects from planning to execution while maintaining the high environmental and social standards that Canadians expect.

How do you see hydropower supporting Canada's clean energy transition?

Hydropower's role in Canada's clean energy transition extends far beyond providing renewable electricity. As the grid evolves, the demand for flexibility, storage, and reliability to complement increasing wind and solar generation is growing areas where hydropower excels.

Canada is entering a significant investment phase in clean energy infrastructure, including generation, transmission, storage, and asset modernization. Hydropower is well positioned to support this growth through the modernization of existing assets, new development opportunities, and enhanced coordination across electricity systems.

I am particularly encouraged by the approach to this next phase of development. Initiatives like BC Hydro's recent Call for Power highlight the need for new clean energy while emphasizing the importance of Indigenous partnership and participation in shaping Canada's energy future.

Having been a cornerstone of Canada's electricity system for decades, hydropower's flexibility and ability to support other renewable resources will be increasingly vital as the electricity system becomes more diverse and interconnected.

What hydropower innovation or trend are you watching most closely?

The trend I'm watching most closely is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology to engineering and project delivery.

At AECOM, we're actively exploring how AI can improve engineering workflows, automate repetitive tasks, accelerate design development, improve document management and enhance decision-making.

AI won’t replace engineers. Engineering remains fundamentally about judgment, experience, accountability, problem-solving and listening to clients to understand their challenges and desired outcomes. However, I do believe AI will become an important tool for helping engineers work more efficiently and create more value for clients.   

Given the scale of infrastructure investment that lies ahead, improving productivity will be essential. If AI can help engineering teams deliver increased quality work faster and improve project execution, it can become a meaningful part of the solution to the industry's resource constraints.

I'm also closely watching the continued digitalization of hydro assets through advanced monitoring, predictive maintenance, digital twins and data-driven operations. Many of the biggest gains over the next decade may come from operating existing assets more intelligently.

Is there a project, milestone or achievement you'd like to highlight?

One project that holds special significance for me is the rehabilitation of the Matala Dam in Angola, where I served as Resident Engineer and Commissioning Manager. Originally commissioned in the 1950s, Matala is vital for providing electricity and water management benefits to southern Angola.

The rehabilitation program modernized key systems, improved reliability, and extended the life of this critical infrastructure. What made this experience particularly rewarding were the technical and human challenges we faced. We modernized an aging facility in a remote location, introduced advanced automation systems, and collaborated with a diverse, multinational team from Angola, Canada, Portugal, Algeria, India, South Africa, and the Philippines.

I take great pride in our knowledge transfer efforts with the local operations team. Despite language barriers, we successfully built a shared understanding of the new automated systems, preparing operators for long-term success. This experience reinforced my belief that successful hydropower projects are ultimately about people as much as they are about infrastructure.

What makes you most optimistic about the future of hydropower in Canada?

I am optimistic about the growing relevance of hydropower as Canada’s electricity system evolves. The focus has shifted from just generation capacity to recognizing hydropower's value in reliability, flexibility, storage, and long-term resilience.

The emerging collaborative spirit across the sector is also encouraging. Whether through Indigenous partnerships, regional cooperation, or closer alignment among utilities, governments, and industry, there is a shared understanding that these opportunities are too significant for any one organization to tackle alone.

With Canada’s world-class hydropower resources, deep technical expertise, and a history of delivering complex projects, the industry is well-positioned for the future. Investments in digital tools, AI enabled workflows, and innovative delivery methods further enhance our ability to address capacity and efficiency challenges. This blend of experience and innovation gives me confidence that we can deliver the next generation of hydropower infrastructure and create lasting value for communities across Canada.