• Energy Research
• 2021-2025close

Lubricant oil is used in hydropower units to minimize friction, improving the turbine efficiency and reducing the wear. However, oil production is a pollutant process, while eventual spills may affect water quality and damage freshwater ecosystems. In this study, the lubricant oil consumption of the European hydropower fleet was estimated (considering its installed capacity of 254 GW). The energy required to extract and process the oil was also estimated based on available literature data. The oil consumption was estimated to be 22 × 103 tons/year, and the associated CO2 emissions are 105 tons/year. The lubricant oil costs EUR 116 million per year. Although this is only 0.0022% of the oil consumed as a primary energy source in the European context, and less than 0.4% of the European industry consumption of lubricant oil, results show that new bearing types and oil-free turbines (e.g., self-lubricating or water-lubricated turbines) can improve the sustainability of the hydropower sector, minimizing the risks and impacts associated with incidental oil spills and leakages. The provided data can also be used for Life Cycle Assessment analyses.

L'utilisation croissante des sources d'énergie éolienne et solaire pour réduire les émissions de CO2 dans le secteur électrique entraîne une disparité croissante entre l'offre et la demande d'électricité. Par conséquent, il y a un intérêt accru pour des solutions de stockage d'énergie abordables pour résoudre ce problème. Le stockage hydroélectrique par pompage (PHS) apparaît comme une option prometteuse, capable de fournir un stockage d'énergie à court et à long terme à un coût raisonnable, tout en offrant l'avantage du stockage d'eau douce. Pour identifier les emplacements potentiels des PHS au Brésil, les réservoirs hydroélectriques existants étant les réservoirs inférieurs, nous avons utilisé une méthodologie innovante qui combine (i) un modèle d'implantation d'usine qui exploite des données topographiques et hydrologiques à haute résolution pour identifier les sites les plus prometteurs pour des études ultérieures. (ii) Une méthodologie économique a été appliquée pour configurer les projets PSH identifiés par le modèle d'implantation d'usine en termes de capacité installée et de temps de décharge, et pour sélectionner les projets les plus attrayants. (iii) Une analyse complète des impacts socio-environnementaux des projets a été réalisée, ce qui permet d'éliminer les projets ayant des impacts graves. Les résultats ont créé un classement de 5600 projets mutuellement exclusifs par valeur actuelle nette (VAN). La VAN la plus élevée est de 2 145 USD, ce qui fait référence à une usine PHS dans le bassin de Doce et le barrage de Salto Grande en tant que réservoir inférieur. Le réservoir supérieur stocke 0,36 km3 d'eau et un barrage de 75 m de haut, le PHS dispose d'un tunnel de 2 km, d'une capacité de puissance de 1 GW et d'un débit de décharge de 220 h. L'article montre un vaste potentiel pour les PHS hebdomadaires, mensuels et saisonniers avec des réservoirs inférieurs existants au Brésil. La creciente utilización de fuentes de energía eólica y solar para reducir las emisiones de CO2 en el sector eléctrico está causando una creciente disparidad entre la oferta y la demanda de electricidad. En consecuencia, existe un mayor interés en soluciones asequibles de almacenamiento de energía para abordar este problema. El almacenamiento hidroeléctrico por bombeo (PHS) surge como una opción prometedora, capaz de proporcionar almacenamiento de energía tanto a corto como a largo plazo a un costo razonable, al tiempo que ofrece la ventaja del almacenamiento de agua dulce. Para identificar las posibles ubicaciones de PHS en los embalses hidroeléctricos existentes en Brasil como los embalses inferiores, empleamos una metodología innovadora que combina (i) un modelo de ubicación de plantas que aprovecha los datos topográficos e hidrológicos de alta resolución para identificar los sitios más prometedores para estudios adicionales. (ii) Se aplicó una metodología económica para configurar los proyectos de PSH identificados por el modelo de ubicación de plantas en términos de su capacidad instalada y tiempo de descarga, y para seleccionar los proyectos más atractivos. (iii) Se realizó un análisis exhaustivo de los impactos socioambientales de los proyectos, lo que permite la eliminación de proyectos con impactos severos. Los resultados crearon una clasificación de 5600 proyectos mutuamente excluyentes por valor actual neto (van). El VPN más alto es de 2145 USD, que se refiere a una planta de PHS en la cuenca del Doce y la presa de Salto Grande como el embalse inferior. El embalse superior almacena 0,36 km3 de agua y una presa de 75 m de altura, el PHS tiene un túnel de 2 km, una capacidad de potencia de 1 GW y una tasa de descarga de 220 h. El documento muestra un gran potencial para el PHS semanal, mensual y estacional con los embalses más bajos existentes en Brasil. The increasing utilization of wind and solar power sources to lower CO2 emissions in the electric sector is causing a growing disparity between electricity supply and demand. Consequently, there is a heightened interest in affordable energy storage solutions to address this issue. Pumped Hydropower Storage (PHS) emerges as a promising option, capable of providing both short and long-term energy storage at a reasonable cost, while also offering the advantage of freshwater storage. To identify potential PHS locations in Brazil existing hydroelectric reservoirs as the lower reservoirs, we employed an innovative methodology that combines (i) plant-siting model that leverages high-resolution topographical and hydrological data to identify the most promising sites for further studies. (ii) An economic methodology was applied to configure PSH projects identified by the plant-siting model in terms of their installed capacity and discharge time, and to select the most attractive projects. (iii) A comprehensive analysis of the socio-environmental impacts of the projects was carried out, which enables the elimination of projects with severe impacts. Results created a ranking of 5600 mutually exclusive projects by net present value (NPV). The highest NPV is 2145 USD which refers to a PHS plant in the Doce Basin and Salto Grande dam as the lower reservoir. The upper reservoir stores 0.36 km3 of water and a 75 m high dam, the PHS has a 2 km tunnel, a 1 GW power capacity and discharge rate of 220 h. The paper shows a vast potential for weekly, monthly, and seasonal PHS with existing lower reservoirs in Brazil. يتسبب الاستخدام المتزايد لمصادر طاقة الرياح والطاقة الشمسية لخفض انبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون في قطاع الكهرباء في تفاوت متزايد بين العرض والطلب على الكهرباء. وبالتالي، هناك اهتمام متزايد بحلول تخزين الطاقة بأسعار معقولة لمعالجة هذه المشكلة. يبرز تخزين الطاقة الكهرومائية التي يتم ضخها كخيار واعد، وقادر على توفير تخزين الطاقة على المدى القصير والطويل بتكلفة معقولة، مع توفير ميزة تخزين المياه العذبة. لتحديد مواقع الصحة والسلامة المهنية المحتملة في البرازيل، الخزانات الكهرومائية الموجودة هي الخزانات المنخفضة، استخدمنا منهجية مبتكرة تجمع بين (1) نموذج تحديد موقع المصنع الذي يستفيد من البيانات الطبوغرافية والهيدرولوجية عالية الدقة لتحديد أكثر المواقع الواعدة لمزيد من الدراسات. (2) تم تطبيق منهجية اقتصادية لتكوين مشاريع الصحة والسلامة المهنية التي حددها نموذج تحديد موقع المصنع من حيث السعة المثبتة ووقت التفريغ، واختيار المشاريع الأكثر جاذبية. (3) تم إجراء تحليل شامل للآثار الاجتماعية والبيئية للمشاريع، مما يتيح القضاء على المشاريع ذات الآثار الشديدة. خلقت النتائج تصنيفًا لـ 5600 مشروع يستبعد بعضها بعضًا حسب صافي القيمة الحالية (NPV). أعلى صافي قيمة صافية هو 2145 دولارًا أمريكيًا والذي يشير إلى مصنع خدمات الصحة العامة في حوض دوس وسد سالتو غراندي باعتباره الخزان السفلي. يخزن الخزان العلوي 0.36 كم3 من المياه وسدًا يبلغ ارتفاعه 75 مترًا، ويحتوي قسم الصحة العامة على نفق بطول 2 كم وسعة طاقة 1 جيجاوات ومعدل تفريغ يبلغ 220 ساعة. تُظهر الورقة إمكانات هائلة لخدمات الصحة العامة الأسبوعية والشهرية والموسمية مع الخزانات المنخفضة الحالية في البرازيل.

Microgrids are decentralized power production systems, where the energy production and consumption are very close to each other. Microgrids generally exploit renewable energy sources, encountering a problem of storage, as the power production from solar and wind is intermittent. This research presents a new integrated methodology and discusses a comparison of batteries and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) as energy storage systems with the integration of wind and solar PV energy sources, which are the major upcoming technologies in the renewable energy sector. We implemented the simulator and optimizer model (HOMER), which develops energy availability usage to obtain optimized renewable energy integration in the microgrid, showing its economic added value. Two scenarios are run with this model—one considers batteries as an energy storage technology and the other considers PSH—in order to obtain the best economic and technical results for the analyzed microgrid. The economic analysis showed a lower net present cost (NPC) and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for the microgrid with PSH. The results showed that the microgrid with the storage of PSH was economical, with an NPC of 45.8 M€ and an LCOE of 0.379 €/kWh, in comparison with the scenario with batteries, which had an NPC of 95.2 M€ and an LCOE of 0.786 €/kWh. The role of storage was understood by differentiating the data into different seasons, using a Python model. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted by varying the capital cost multiplier of solar PV and wind turbines to obtain the best optimal economic solutions.

In the hydropower sector, the weight of electro-mechanical equipment is an important input data. During the design stage, it allows to estimate material cost, to perform Life Cycle Assessments and to consider adequate load factors on the supporting structures. At the end of the lifetime, in case of dismantling or retrofitting, the estimation of the equipment weight allows to appraise the material value and to plan the operational activities. However, the engineering knowledge is quite fragmented and limited on this topic, and only a few weight equations are available in the literature. In this contribution, the available equations are firstly reviewed and discussed. Secondly, data were collected both from the literature and from hydropower companies, and generalized to provide expeditious equations. The equations presented in this paper allow for a preliminary estimate of the weight of: 1) the runner of Pelton, Kaplan, Bulb, Cross-Flow (Banki type) and Francis turbines, and water wheels; 2) the casing of Pelton and reaction turbines; 3) draft tubes; 4) electric generators. Data on Vortex, Turgo and Hydrokinetic turbines, Archimedes screws and guide vanes are presented. The opportunities associated to innovative and lighter construction materials are discussed.

The hydropower sector is currently experiencing several technological developments. New technologies and practices are emerging to make hydropower more flexible and more sustainable. Novel materials have also been recently developed to increase performance, durability, and reliability; however, no systematic discussions can be found in the literature. Therefore, in this paper, novel materials for hydropower applications are presented, and their performance, advantages, and limitations are discussed. For example, composites can reduce the weight of steel equipment by 50% to 80%, polymers and superhydrophobic materials can reduce head losses by 4% to 20%, and novel bearing materials can reduce bearing wear by 6%. These improvements determine higher efficiencies, longer life span, waste reduction, and maintenance needs, although the initial cost of some materials is not yet competitive with respect to the costs of traditional materials. The novel materials are described here based on the following categories: novel materials for turbines, dams and waterways, bearings, seals, and ocean hydropower.

During the Digital Decade, the European Union (EU) is facing two important challenges: the green (and energy) transition and the digital transition, which are interconnected with one another. These transitions are of high relevance in several aspects of our life, e.g., in the industry, energy sector, transports, environmental management and our daily life. Digital technologies are particularly emerging also as multi-benefit solution in the water sector, as water is becoming more and more vulnerable to climate change (e.g., droughts and floods) and human activities (e.g., pollution and depletion). Within this context, in this study we assessed some of the several economic benefits that digital solutions can bring to the water sector, with a focus on leakage reduction in water distribution networks, reduction of combined sewer overflows and improvement of hydropower generation and operation. The benefits are calculated for each EU Member State and the UK, and then aggregated at the EU scale. Benefits were quantified in EUR 5.0, 0.14 and 1.7 billion per year (EUR 13.2 per person per year, on average), respectively, excluding environmental and social benefits, which may play a non-negligible role.

Environmentally enhanced turbines (EETs) have gained attention in the past two decades in order to reduce environmental impacts of hydropower plants on fish communities and on water quality. In this mini-review the main EETs are discussed, focusing on the Alden and Minimum Gap Runner turbines to reduce fish injury and on self-aerating and self/free-lubricant turbines to improve water quality. The review shows that EETs can be efficiently adopted instead of traditional turbines: EETs are cost-effective, efficient in terms of energy generation and have shown to reduce environmental impacts. Scientific gaps are also highlighted and case studies reported to better support refurbishment and new projects.

The Pelton turbine is the most widespread and efficient impulse hydropower turbine. The Pelton casing is a static, but key component: the internal hydrodynamic phenomena affect the performance of the hydropower plant, the vibration of the equipment and water quality (dissolved oxygen downstream). However, the literature information is very fragmented and not well organized, so that the design is generally based on empirical rules and on proper know-how of hydropower companies. In this paper, the state-of-the-art of the Pelton casing is reviewed and organized under three macro areas: hydraulics, mechanics (vibrations and weight) and aeration. The preliminary design procedure is described and discussed in light of recent scientific results, and the open questions and research challenges are highlighted. Innovative case studies are described (including counterpressure operation) and a dataset of installed casings (not available in literature) is elaborated to derive an empirical equation to estimate the casing weight. The efficiency can be improved by 3% by an optimal fluid dynamic design and a better understanding of the internal hydrodynamics. Proper inserts can improve the hydraulic efficiency by 2%, reduce the weight (by about 12%) and better bear the vibrations. Several scientific questions are still open, and a better understanding of the fluid structure interaction is needed to improve efficiency, operation and water quality.