Ecological Protection and Sustainability

#### **Chapter 5**

## Innovative Projects and Technology Implementation in the Hydropower Sector

*Emanuele Quaranta*

#### **Abstract**

In this chapter, some innovative case studies in the hydropower sector are discussed, highlighting how novel technologies and operational practices can make it more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective. Some practices to reduce hydropeaking effects, improving fish habitat, and turbines with higher survival rate, allowing to bring fish survival >98%, are discussed. The retrofitting of non-powered barriers can help to minimize the environmental impacts, reducing costs by more than 20%. New turbines are described focusing on their advantages with respect to standard ones, in particular, water wheels in irrigation canals to promote the valorization of watermills and old weirs, the very low head (VLH) turbine in navigation locks (reducing overall cost by more than 20%), the vortex turbine, and the Deriaz turbine with adjustable runner blades to improve the efficiency curve, especially at part load. Digitalization can help in preventing damages and failures increasing the overall efficiency and energy generation by more than 1%.

**Keywords:** aqueduct, Deriaz, digitalization, fish, hydropeaking, retrofitting, turbine, sustainability, VLH, water wheel

#### **1. Introduction**

Hydropower is the largest renewable energy source used worldwide, with 1308 GW of global installed capacity in 2019. The benefits of large hydropower plants (>10 MW) with a reservoir are related to the multipurpose use of the reservoir, e.g. energy generation, job opportunities, better water management, storage capacity, and stabilization of the electric grid thanks to the flexible operation, while small hydropower (SH, <10 MW) typically contributes to local development, decentralized energy generation and market opportunities in remote areas [1, 7].

The hydropower sector is undergoing a technological evolution, due to the new needs it has to deal with. Hydropower is required to be more flexible, as the integration of wind and solar energy sources in the electric grid (characterized by an intermittent and highly variable production) are increasing the variability of the electricity market [1]. Furthermore, hydropower is required to be more environment friendly, as the interruption of the longitudinal continuity of a river and the related fragmentation generated by a dam generate severe environmental impacts that should be properly addressed [2–4]. Hydropower is also required to become cheaper, with a lower investment cost, so that the reuse of existing structures and

#### *Technological Innovations and Advances in Hydropower Engineering*

the repowering of non-powered dams are perceived as a suitable option to reduce hydropower cost while avoiding additional river fragmentation [5].

Therefore, several emerging technologies and best practices are under development [6, 7] aimed at increasing hydropower flexibility, cost-effectiveness and sustainability, minimizing environmental impacts, and providing sustenance and electrification to rural areas [8]. More flexible turbines are being developed to cope with the always more frequent grid instabilities and load variations [9], pumped storage hydropower plants to allow storage capacity and flexibility [10], digitalization to prevent failures and to optimize the operation [6, 7], new low head hydropower converters to be used in irrigation canals and at low head existing barriers [11, 12], and more fish-friendly solutions to reduce impacts on fish [13].

In this chapter, some innovative case studies from Italy, USA, Belgium and Switzerland are discussed to show recent innovations in the hydropower sector. In particular, the discussed case studies are related to the following topics:

	- a.Reaction turbines
	- b.The vortex turbine
	- a.Waterways and basins
	- b.Aqueducts
	- c.Overflow from dams
	- d.Weirs in irrigation canals
	- e.Navigation locks

These case studies are described with the aim of showing how the implementation of novel methodologies and technologies can help in reducing costs and impacts while increasing efficiency and energy generation. Proper references are included for the readers interested in knowing more about the technical details of these technologies, while here we will mostly focus on their benefits and effects.

#### **2. Hydropeaking reduction**

Hydropeaking refers to frequent, rapid, and short-term fluctuations in water flow and water levels downstream and upstream of hydropower stations. Such fluctuations are becoming increasingly common worldwide due to the variable electricity market and are known to have far-reaching effects on riverine vegetation *Innovative Projects and Technology Implementation in the Hydropower Sector DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100492*

**Figure 1.** *(a) Suitability distribution for adult Salmo marmoratus and (b) young S. marmoratus. Q = 4.0 m3 /s [7].*

and fish communities. The modified hydrology caused by hydropeaking has no natural correspondence in freshwater systems, and few species can adaptat [14]. Hydropeaking can be compared to artificial floods that drastically worsen the quality of the river environment [15].

In this context, the Sant Antonio hydroelectric plant was built in 1952 on the Talavera River in Bolzano, Italy. To mitigate the hydropeaking, the construction of two large demodulation reservoirs was chosen to store the water released from the turbines. The use of reservoirs is indeed considered one of the most effective methods to reduce hydropeaking [16]. The reservoirs gradually fill up when the turbines are operating and slowly empty when the plant works at part load.

Downstream of the plant the ratio between the maximum and minimum flow rate has been reduced from 1:15 to a value of 1:4. The ecological effects of the demodulation reservoir were estimated by examining water depth and flow velocity [17], depending on fish preferences and focusing on *Salmo marmoratus* and *Thymallus thymallus* (**Figure 1**).

The weighted usable habitat area (WUA) [18] was calculated to show how the underground demodulation reservoir improves the habitat availability both in the conditions of minimum release (WUAmin, occurring when the demodulation reservoir releases water) and in the maximum release conditions (WUAmax, when the peak flow rates are flattened).

The analysis of the expected effects on an annual basis shows for adult *Thymallus thymallus* an increase of 67.5% in WUAmin and a reduction of 1.2% in WUAmax, and for young *Thymallus thymallus* an increase of 23.4% in WUAmin and 6.3% in WUAmax. For adult *S. marmoratus,* it was estimated an increase of 14.6% in WUAmin and 2.9% in WUAmax, and for young *S. marmoratus* an increase of 3.4% in WUAmin and 7.5% in WUAmax.

#### **3. Ecologically improved turbines**

#### **3.1 Reaction turbines**

Ecologically improved turbines have gained attention in the past two decades and are designed with a strong focus on reducing the hydraulic stressors leading to mortal injury of migrating fish. A review work [13] on the first generation of "fish-friendly" turbines described the conceptual development and implementation of two relevant technologies designed for better fish passage conditions,

namely the minimum gap runner (MGR) and the Alden turbine. Such technologies are continuously improving to give rise to a second generation of "fish-friendly" turbines that yield greater improvements in fish survival than the first generation (reducing blade-strike effects) and that accommodate a larger biodiversity of fish present in the migratory corridor. The pressure-related effects are important when there is a greater biodiversity since most migratory fish are prone to mortality due to barotrauma effects caused by the rapid decompression.

The Alden turbine has three blades wrapped around the shaft and it is the evolution of the Francis turbine. The Alden turbine rotates slower compared to conventional Francis turbines. Presently, the unit is only applicable for smallscale hydropower. Instead, the recent development of the Kaplan turbine is the minimum gap runner (MGR), the DIVE, and the very low head (VLH) turbine. Studies with such turbines report improved survival rates compared to the conventional design. The design of the minimum gap runner (MGR) reduces the gaps between the adjustable runner blade and the hub as well as between the blades and the discharge ring. In the DIVE turbines, the double regulation is provided by the variable rotational speed instead of the adjustable runner blade pitch. Such an approach allows maintaining the blades always in their maximum opening position reducing the strike probability with fish and avoiding dangerous gaps between the blades and other parts of the machine. The very low head (VLH) is adapted to sites below 5 m head, with fixed runner blades and adjustable rotational speed.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Ice Harbor Lock and Dam (**Figure 2**), located in Washington State, is one such facility focused on improvement under this point of view. The dam houses six large vertical Kaplan turbines. Units 1–3 produce 107 MW at 27.1 m of net head and were commissioned in 1961. Units 4–6 produce 130 MW.

The turbine runners and associated water passageway modifications were investigated with computational fluid dynamics to assess various fish passage criteria, including reducing shear stresses and a target minimum nadir pressure within the water passageway of atmospheric pressure, 101 kPa [19].

During the test procedure, 1068 treatment fish were released and 1030 were recaptured. At the peak efficiency condition, the 48-h survival estimates, excluding predation, were 98.16 ± 0.84%. A total of 15 of the recaptured treatment fish (1.5%) underwent visible injuries, in particular bruising to the head and body (0.7%) and eye damage (0.5%). Four fish (0.4%) were decapitated. Survival at 48 h at the peak efficiency was 2.2–3.3% higher for the new Unit 2 than at the existing adjustable blade runner tested in 2007 (Unit 3). About 1.5% of fish were injured at Unit 2, while 3.8% at Unit 3. About 0.4% of fish were decapitated at Unit 2, less than at Unit

3 (1.2%). It was also found that the target minimum nadir pressure of 101 kPa and the blade strike reduction were satisfied.

#### **3.2 The vortex turbine**

Hydraulic turbines with a free surface operation are generally considered fishfriendly, due to their large flow passages, no high-pressure gradient and no pressurized flows, and low rotational speeds [11, 29]. This is the case of the gravitational vortex turbine [7, 11].

The vortex turbine can operate within a head ranging from 1 to 4.5 m and with flow rates from 0.7 to 9 m3 /s. The current section describes the rehabilitation of a vortex turbine installed on the Ayung River in Bali. The head is 1.85 m and the flow is 1.5 m3 /s. The previous turbine was limited to 5 kW due to technical problems with the generator. The rotor often got blocked by debris, and, after a flood, the drivetrain underwent irreparable damages. The new runner has a diameter of 1.2 m and the concrete basin diameter is 3.9 m, where there is the vortical flow that drives the runner. The rotational speed is 96 rpm, with a generated power of 13 kW and thus with a global efficiency of 55.8%. Numerical simulations predicted good ecological behavior in relation to fish passages. The equivalent maximum acclimation pressure was *P*a = 17.19 psa, while the minimum exposure pressure was *P*e = −1.1 × 104 Pa (relative) = 13.1 psa, leading to *P*e/*P*a = 76%, above the threshold limit (60%). Furthermore, the maximum pressure drop rate is below 116 psi/s, which is below 500 psi/s, the threshold limit. There were also additional benefits of using this turbine, as the smaller dimensions and a lightweight turbine (rotor and drive train weight is 550 kg), and the relatively low cost (0.07 EUR/kWh including maintenance). Obviously, the civil structure of the concrete circular basin has to be considered, and future studies should aim at minimizing its dimensions.

### **4. Reuse of existing barriers**

The powering of non-powered dams–NPDs—and the exploitation of existing barriers is one of the developing hydropower practices aimed at avoiding new interruptions of the longitudinal river connectivity [5]. For example, in USA there are 2500 dams that provide 78 gigawatts (GW) of conventional hydropower and 22 GW of pumped storage hydropower, but the United States has more than 80,000 NPDs, providing a variety of services ranging from water supply to inland navigation. Powering of these dams can add 12 GW, 8 GW of these from 100 dams [20]. Instead, a feasibility study conducted in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, cataloging over 1000 non-Federal dams with hydraulic heads ranging from 4.6 m to 10.7 and power capacity <300 kW, showed that most of the dams were not financially convenient for hydropower applications, although some low head dams may be exploited for hydropower applications if adequate funding opportunities were provided as for wind and solar markets [21]. In Europe, the main advantage of this approach is that most of the infrastructures are already in place and the requirements in the capital are between 30 and 50% of that for mini-hydro stations constructed from scratch. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), there are currently approximately 7000 large dams in Europe and thousands of additional smaller dams. Thus, it is expected that a power potential exists in European NPDs. In South Africa, the potential of NPDs is estimated at 250 MW [22]. It is estimated that in Europe there are 65,000 small barriers, for example historic weirs and mill sites [23].

#### **4.1 Waterways and basins**

In this section, two historic channels, that provided water for irrigation to Modena and Reggio Emilia fed by a reservoir of 800,000 m3 , are examined (**Figure 3**). These channels are no longer feedable due to the lowering of the river bed. They are located in San Michele dei Mucchietti on the Secchia River, Sassuolo (MO, Italy), and Castellarano (RE, Italy). The water supplies are managed by legally different subjects with leading management in charge of Consorzio di Bonifica Emilia Centrale. The central part of the dam is made of a concrete body with a surface spillway and two bottom sluice gates; the right and left shoulders are made of earth.

Although the structure was not conceived to host a hydropower plant (HPP), a hydropower plant was successively designed to use the water-level difference generated by the weir without water resource subtraction to the riverbed. The main characteristics of the plant are average flow rate: 10.54 m3 /s, maximum flow rate: 26 m3 /s, gross head: 9.66 m, and nominal concession power: 998.20 kW.

Two vertical axis Kaplan turbines were installed to provide a maximum power of 1207 and 603 kW, connected to two synchronous generators with nominal power equal to 1476 and 800 kVA.

The plant was built by reusing part of the existing infrastructures, in particular:


Therefore, 277 €/kW was the total saving that, compared to an average installation cost of 1300–8000 USD\$/kW [24], is a cost reduction of 4.2–25%.

**Figure 3.** *(a) Layout of the plant as in the design; (b) aerial photo of the site as built [7].*

*Innovative Projects and Technology Implementation in the Hydropower Sector DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100492*

#### **4.2 Aqueducts**

In existing water supply and irrigation networks, there is a hidden hydropower potential that can be exploited. For example, 4 bars are usually required in drinking water networks and 3–10 bars in irrigation plants equipped with sprinklers. If the hydrostatic pressure is higher than the above-mentioned requested operational pressure, the excess pressure can be exploited for hydropower production.

There are several benefits of implementing hydropower systems in existing pipelines: (i) head, pressure, and flow rate are continuously monitored, thus also the power generated; (ii) the placement of turbine can extend the life of nearby pressure reduction valves (PRV) as it reduces the workload of the PRV; and (iii) existing infrastructures are used; thus, some plants may be exempted from licensing, or the cost for permitting may be relatively small, and environmental impacts are reduced. However, as the water demand is not constant, the flow rate in pipelines varies substantially (±50%). Therefore, it is important to understand how turbines behave when subjected to these variations [25].

The Solcano HPP is located in the province of Pescara (Abruzzo region, central Italy) in the municipality of San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore. The nominal diameter 300 mm PN40 (40 bar) steel pipe feeds several municipalities with a maximum flow rate *Q*max = 0.185 m3 /s.

The flow rate in the network varies substantially [26]. A Francis turbine was chosen and designed at *Q* = 0.125 m3 /s and *N* = 3000 rpm as design speed [27], but the wide head range made necessary a variable speed system. The installed power was 150 kW. This choice was justified by the fact that a faster synchronous speed was not possible, while a lower synchronous speed was not suitable for Francis turbines. Furthermore, multi-stage Francis turbines increase the complexity of the system and reduce reliability.

A fixed speed Francis solution would exhibit a very narrow operating range with respect to site operating range. Therefore, the variable speed solution, in this case, was selected, varying between 2500 and 4000 rpm.

#### **4.3 Overflow from dams**

In reservoir hydropower plants, the discharge necessary to preserve the river ecosystem and that has to be continuosly released downstream, called environmental flow, could be used to produce green energy without any other type of pollution. A case of energy recovery from environmental flow was realized in a minihydropower plant located in the North of Italy, in the alpine area of Predazzo close to Bellamonte, in the downstream part of Forte Buso dam. The main features of the Forte Buso plant are dam height 105 m, maximum retention height 99 m, basin storage volume 29.4 Mm3 , total head in maximum basin level 114 m (total head for the turbine set at level 0), and total head in minimum basin level 51 m.

The catchment hydrological basin is 60 km<sup>2</sup> . Along the downstream Travignolo river, the following values of environmental flow must be released:


The mini-hydropower uses the environmental flow. A permanent magnet generator (PMG) was chosen to face with the large head variation, and the turbine rotational speed varied from 500 to 600 rpm. The Pelton turbine is with a vertical axis and an installed power capacity of 580 kW, with six jets. The PMG designed power is 600 kW and 50 Hz. The plant includes a bypass system that works also in case of electricity failure, to always ensure the correct release of environmental flow. The annual energy generation is 3100 MWh, with an overall efficiency of 92.7%, higher than that of a traditional system (84–86%).

The overall cost was 3,000,000 €, of which 2,086,000 € was the cost of the execution of the plant. Therefore, the unitary cost was 5000 €/kW of installed power. The payback time is 6 years for the return of the investment. If two turbines would have been used, the cost would have been increased by 60%, while management and maintenance charges almost doubled. The payback time would have been increased to 9 years.

#### **4.4 Weirs in irrigation canals and in old mills**

In rivers, irrigation canals, and at old mill sites, there is a hydropower potential with very low head differences below 2.5 m. The power mostly ranges from 5 to 100 kW. Much of this potential is unused since modern hydropower technology is not cost-effective for such a very low head/high flow rate situation [28]. It is estimated that in Europe there are 65,000 unused historic hydropower sites, out of which 27,000 are old water mills that could be repowered by using water wheels [23].

Water wheels have been recently discovered to be efficient and cost-effective hydropower converters in this context, so that, in the last decade, the horizontal axis water wheel has been again reintroduced in the market for electricity generation. This was due to the hydraulic efficiencies of more than 70%, coupled with the low costs compared with other low head turbines [11] and high ecological behavior in relation to downstream migrating fish [29].

Horizontal axis wheels can be classified into gravity type and stream type. Gravity wheels mainly use the potential energy of water, that is, the water weight [12], and can be classified into overshot [30], breastshot [31], and undershot wheels [28] depending on head and flow rate, while stream water wheels use the kinetic energy of a water stream [32].

In this section, a breastshot water wheel realized in North Italy is presented. Breastshot water wheels are generally used below 4 m head and flows per meter width typically below 800 l/s. The water inflow is near the rotation axis.

**Figure 4** depicts the water wheel installed in an irrigation canal in North Italy. The head difference is 1.85 m with a flow rate of 1.0 m3 /s. The wheel is made of

**Figure 4.** *Water wheel installed in an irrigation canal in North Italy.*

COR-TEN steel. The wheel diameter is 3.6 m, for a wheel width of 1.35 m and 30 blades, supported by a shroud in the canal bed 2 m × 6 m. The global efficiency of the wheel and the power take-off (generator and gearbox) is estimated to be 0.67. The electric generator is a synchronous one, with 4 poles and 95.5 Nm of torque. Its efficiency is 0.95, as also the efficiency of the gearbox and of the inverter. The wheel weight is 51 kN, in agreement with the equation proposed in [33].

#### **4.5 Navigation locks**

Navigation locks present a perfect example of existing facilities where hydro turbines, instead of the gates, could regulate the flow, producing energy otherwise wasted. The very low head (VLH) machine is a promising technology in this context [7]. In this section, two VLH installations are described.

The first plant is located in the Canda locality (Rovigo, Italy) on the Canal Bianco, and it was commissioned at the end of 2016. The canal height is 7 m, canal width 9.5 m, gross head 3 m, and the mean annual flow 16.5 m3 /s. The second plant is located in Bussari (Rovigo, Italy), again on the Canal Bianco, and it was commissioned in the first half of 2017. The canal height is 6.3 m, canal width 8 m, gross head 2.56 m, and mean annual flow 25 m3 /s.

In the Canda power plant, two VLH 3150 (runner diameter of 3150 mm) were installed with a total power of 2 × 256 kW achieving an annual production of 2,888,000 kWh. In Bussari, one VLH 5000 (runner diameter of 5000 mm) was installed with a total power of 481 kW and annual production of 2,751,000 kWh.

Comparing this solution similar projects with Kaplan turbines, the civil costs were reduced by 80%, while the design of an *ad hoc* steel structure instead of a standard one lead to an increase of 40% of mechanical structures. Therefore, the total cost of the Canda and Bussari projects was 3950 and 3650 €/kW, respectively, lower than the typical cost of similar plants where civil works are needed (5000 €/ kW). This means that the cost reduction ranged between 20 and 30%.

#### **5. New turbines: the Deriaz turbine**

Nowadays, climate changes, variable flow rates, unpredictable floods, and the frequent instability of the electric grid require new hydropower technologies to provide greater flexibility over an extended range of hydraulic conditions. Improved flexibility means maintaining an optimal efficiency while reducing flow instabilities, especially at off-design conditions, and efficiently respond to grid requirements and instabilities. This is provided by control techniques (1), new and more geometrically-adjustable turbines (2), better governors (3), and integration with other energy technologies (e.g. photovoltaic panels), additional reservoirs, and batteries (4) [6].

With regard to point (2), the Deriaz turbine, as optimization of the Francis turbine, is gathering a lot of attention. The Deriaz turbomachine (DT), presented by engineer Paul Deriaz, was the first diagonal flow pump-turbine to be designed, in 1926, but during the nineteenth century, it has been almost forgotten. The Deriaz turbine exhibits a lower specific speed than a Kaplan turbine, and it works more efficiently at part loads and at higher available head than a Kaplan turbine. Differently from Francis turbines, the Deriaz is provided with adjustable runner blades, providing higher flexibility at variable flow rates and with higher efficiency at part loads. The maximum efficiency is around 90%, and it can be kept constant from 30 to 120% of the design flow rate. The Deriaz turbine is able to work in pumping mode [34]. Kuromatagawa II power station adopted a vertical shaft Deriaz

**Figure 5.** *(a) Deriaz turbine (photo courtesy of Mhylab); (b) Deriaz power plant in Italy (photo courtesy of Artingegneria).*

pump-turbine in 1963 to deal with a large head variation and to attain high efficiency at part load. The rotational speed of the Deriaz turbine was 333 rpm during pumping mode and 300 rpm in turbine mode from an effective head of 78 m to the minimum operational head of 39 m with a maximum flow rate of 28 m3 /s. The ratio of unit speeds at maximum efficiency during turbine and pump operation is about 1.1, the same as for the Francis-type pump-turbine [34]. Another interesting example is a mini-hydropower plant built in Italy, with the following characteristics: maximum flow rate: 800 l/s, head: 32.5 m, power: 220 kW, 1000 rpm. The cost was 800 k€ (350 k€ of electro-mech. equipment) (**Figure 5**).

Also, the X-Blade turbine is an evolution of the Francis turbine. It can operate in a larger range of flow and heads before inter-blade vortices, inlet cavitation, or draft tube pressure pulsations occur or become critical. The skewed outlet geometry with the relatively small outlet diameter at the crown contributes to the typical low draft tube pressure pulsation level. The X-Blade turbine generates a smaller and less intensive vortex in the draft tube center than other turbine types, requiring a smaller amount of natural air admission through the runner cone.

#### **6. Digitalization**

The collection and processing of real-world data to adjust the actual working conditions of hydropower turbines can provide advanced grid supporting services without compromising reliability and safety. Apart from the improvement of predictive maintenance allowing for the prolongation of the lifetime, reduction of the outage time, and addressing cyber-security risks, rehabilitation and digitalization involve increasing the overall efficiency and, thus, the produced energy [6].

Recent studies have shown the interest in applying data-driven methods to the data collected during the hydropower plant operation or reduced scale model tests to predict fatigue and condition monitoring, as in [35], cavitation erosion in [36], and performances, as presented by [37].

Further information on the meaning and activity involved in the digitalization concept is well described in [6]. It is estimated that a total of 42 TWh could be added to present hydropower energy production by implementing hydropower digitalization. Such an increase could lead to annual operational savings of 5 \$ billion and a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The increase of

#### *Innovative Projects and Technology Implementation in the Hydropower Sector DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100492*

42 TWh/y corresponds to 1.3% of the actual global hydro-generation. This is in line with a recent publication, [7] where it was calculated an additional 0.5% in one case, and 1.2% in a second case, of energy generation of two Italian hydropower plants by implementing the digitalization. The cases reported by Hydrogrid reached an efficiency increase between 0.4% and 1% [38].

Furthermore, digitalization will enable to drastically reduce the response time of hydro-units, especially those of reversible pump-turbines. In [39], it is presented the case study of Z'Mutt, a pumped storage hydropower plant equipped with a 5-MW reversible pump-turbine with variable speed technology using a Full-Size Frequency Converter (FSFC). It is showed that by leveraging numerical simulations and scale model test results during transient operations, and implementing an optimization algorithm to select the best operating sequences, the response time of the turbine can be improved. Digitalization will also allow to assess the economic impact of offering additional reserve flexibility, and to prevent failures and damages with the implementation of HPP digital twins. The cost of a predictive system for one unit (development and implementation at HPP) is about 200,000 EUR [40]. An additional increase and optimization could be achieved with the use of software that uses genetic algorithms such as EASY [41]. To improve further the flexibility of hydropower plants, a number of researchers [42] investigated their stability properties by means of transfer functions representing the dynamic behavior of the reservoir, penstock, surge tank, hydro-turbine, and the generator. A novel approach was developed to establish the dynamic model of the hydro-turbine governing system in the transient process.

HydEA is a platform to analyze the behavior of the plant and that elaborates a reference model of the performance characteristics of the generation units. This allows to detect in real time the deviations from the expected values, finding eventual damages. It is also possible to recognize, through the recalculation of the models at fixed intervals, very slow decay of the system performance. The additional algorithm allows to increase the overall plant efficiency by improving the load on the operating turbines. For example, the production of an Italian plant increased by 1.2% on an annual basis.

The Hydro-Clone is a Real-Time Simulation Monitoring System made of a numerical copy of the hydropower plant that reproduces its real-time dynamic behavior, using the boundary conditions measured *in situ* as input [43]. This system allows to continuously diagnose the health of a plant by numerical cloning the major hydraulic and electrical components of the plant, using the SIMSEN software. The comparison between the simulated and measured quantities enables to understand the health state and behavior of the system. The Hydro-Clone system has been operating since 2014 at the La Bâtiaz power plant (200 MW).

#### **7. Discussion and conclusions**

The case studies here collected show engineering insights on new technologies and more sustainable methodologies. These case studies confirm the fact that hydropower is a sector in continuous development. New technologies and methodologies are being implemented to improve flexibility and efficiency and to reduce environmental impacts. **Table 1** summarizes some key results.

New ecologically improved turbines are under development to reduce fish mortality and improve habitat, but more studies should be devoted to the better understanding of the interaction between fish and hydraulic structures. The Sant' Antonio hydroelectric plant uses two large underground demodulation reservoirs to reduce the effects of hydropeaking downstream of the plant, but more work is needed to better determine habitat preferences of some fish species [17].


#### **Table 1.**

*Key improvements from the case studies.*

The hydropower energy recovery from existing hydraulic structures is also an emerging trend. In San Michele dei Mucchietti locality, on the Secchia River, the use of existing structures has allowed saving 500,000 €, corresponding to a cost reduction of 277 €/kW. The energy generation from the ecological flow was also described, with a Pelton turbine with a global efficiency of 92.7%. If this facility would have been built with two standard turbines, the cost would have been increased by 60%. Energy recovery in aqueducts is also a sector in rapid development, and in this chapter, a 150-kW Francis turbine with variable speed was described [44].

The VLH turbine was implemented in a navigation canal in Italy, leading to a total cost between 3950 €/kW and 3650 €/kW, while similar plants in which civil works were needed had a total cost of 5000 €/kW. Compared to Kaplan turbines, the VLH turbine also shows a better ecological behavior, but it exhibits a lower efficiency and can only be applied at heads below 5 m.

Digitalization is an emerging trend, especially when hydropower plants have to be modernized (almost one half of the hydropower fleet was built more than 40 years ago). New tools are under development, allowing to improve annual generation spill reduction, and preventing damages and failures.

#### **Acknowledgements**

Thanks to Eisackwerk, Voith Hydro, Ada Francesconi, Carmine Fioravante of Artingegneria, and Alberto Bullani of Mhylab for the photo courtesy.

*Innovative Projects and Technology Implementation in the Hydropower Sector DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100492*

#### **Author details**

Emanuele Quaranta European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC), Ispra, Italy

\*Address all correspondence to: emanuele.quaranta@ec.europa.eu; quarantaemanuele@yahoo.it

© 2021 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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### **Chapter 6**

## Hydropower and Sustainability

*Hemlal Bhattarai*

### **Abstract**

Renewable energy sources are gaining momentum in power sector mainly to address the impacts of climate change as well as the risks associated with usage of fossil fuels or nuclear energy sources. Hydropower is one of the most promising renewable energy source-based power plant that hold significant shares globally. But there are series of risks associated with hydropower project when we talk about sustainability and needs are felt to critically understand the pertaining risks as well as protocols or measures to quantify the risks. Such measure will prove to be crucial in underlining the strategic measures from planning, construction and operation phases of hydropower keeping on account of its sustainability.

**Keywords:** hydropower, renewable energy, sustainability, protocols, risks

#### **1. Introduction**

Power sectors today are facing stiff challenges in terms of its growing roles in contributions towards socioeconomic development. Electrical energy is one major components of the contributors that drives economic activities with stiff increases in its demand. On other hand there is pressure of climate friendly adoption through the adoption of the principles of green economy whereby the need for greenhouse gas emissions needs to be reduced [1].

But power sectors have been facing immense pressure of its dependency for fossil fuels usage for the electric power generations. With the threat of climate change and the commitment to combat climate change there is considerable move to harness electrical energy from renewable energy which is a clean source of energy. Amongst the renewable sources, hydropower holds considerable shares of electrical power generation due to its stable high power generation capabilities.

#### **2. Renewable energy sources for electricity generation**

The initiative for renewable energy sources has been considerably gaining momentum in recent decades. Prime reasons for this are due to its positive impacts of being environment friendly as well as its inexhaustible properties. Statistics maintained by IRENA shows that globally there was addition renewable energy capacity by 260 GW in 2020 despite a year hard hit by COVID-19 pandemic. Major reflection of this growth attributes due to fall in global fossil fuel additions [2].

The (**Figure 1**) below clearly highlighted the growth of renewable energy where major shares are of hydropower followed by wind, solar, bioenergy and geothermal. Just in 2019 there seems a considerable growth in solar power followed by wind, and other sources for electricity generations [3].

#### **Figure 1.**

*Growth in renewable electric generation [2].*

The share of installed capacity of hydropower in 2018 is at 1292 GW and there is a growth seen in the sectors of renewable energy (**Figure 2**). Such growth is due to be higher reliability of this source for renewable power generation along with its limited adverse impacts to the environment. As a result, there are indications that hydropower is gaining its potential across globe and the countries that can have feasibility of generating electric power from hydro. The trust based on its reliability assurance along with it being the source of renewable energy, penetration of hydropower in power sectors are substantial as well as growing.

*The installed capacity of hydropower worldwide [4].*

**Figure 2.**

### **3. Hydropower as potential energy sources**

Hydropower happens to be one of the major sources of electrical energy as it is clean, renewable and environment friendly as compared with fossil fuels or even the nuclear power [5]. Some of the major advantages of hydropower are:


World today hold considerable shares of electrical energy that are generated from renewable sources which is growing fast.

It is evident from the (**Figure 3**) below that hydropower hold 50% shares with 1,172 GW as compared with other renewable energy sources for electricity generation in 2018 where renewable energy accounts for the capacity of 2,351 GW. The share of hydropower in 2019 has increased to 1308 GW showing a significant increase in hydropower [6] despite the rising increases in solar and wind power generation capacities. Furthermore, IRENA statistic 2021 shows that of more than 80% install capacity which are from renewable energy in 2020 and the global renewable energy generation capacity reaches to 2799 GW in the end of same.

Though hydropower happens to be the major contributors for electricity generations, it has come into growing concern and threats. Water is the primary source of energy used which has been impacted due to climate changes. There are evidences of water bodies in rivers and streams drying up, prevailing situations of drought and glaciers meltdown. The actions to retain water bodies in this era of climate change needs to be device through collective initiatives ranging from policies, regulations, supports and mitigations measures.

**Figure 3.** *The share of renewable energy generation sources [3].*

#### **4. Hydropower and sustainability**

#### **4.1 Understanding sustainable development**

The concept of sustainable development has emerged in later parts of 1960s and in the earlier part of 1970s when the focuses on green movements was taking the momentum [7]. Environment concern has thus been the topic of discussion and that is to assure the sustainability (**Figure 4**).

There on the developmental activities are seen as an agent of environmental impacts and the focuses was shifted towards sustainable development. Sustainable development focuses more on the efficient measures of economic developmental activities that can be more in equitable manner and subsequently have limited impacts created to the environment (**Figure 5**).

Also, the dimensions of sustainability are well addressed in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) where the SDGs are measures devised to build the future that are sustainable, prosperous as well as equitable. The noble initiatives of SDGs are to provide a framework for addressing the needs of sustainable future through the initiatives and measures that works in broader aspects of activities that are planned for economic growth as well as living standards. This demand for strategic management which basically is 'understanding an organization's strategic position, making strategic decisions for the future, and managing [that] strategy in action' that can address the three phases of development as reflected below (**Figure 6**).

#### **4.2 Understanding sustainable development of hydropower**

Hydropower has to fit in the sustainability development models as discussed in earlier section where it needs to take account of economic, social and environment dimension starting from its planning phase till operations. Though these three factors are mostly in a nexus form when we are talking about sustainability.

The hydropower dams are main components of hydropower where it need to be constructed in water abundant regions. On the other hand, due to climate change the risk of drought and serviceability of the dams in meeting the needful impacts are in rise (**Figure 7**) [11].

#### **Figure 4.**

*Left, typical representation of sustainability as three intersecting circles. Right, alternative depictions: Literal 'pillars' and a concentric circles approach [8].*

#### *Hydropower and Sustainability DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99833*

**Figure 5.** *Three visual representations of sustainable development: Pillars, circles, interlocking circles (IUCN, 2006) [9].*

#### **Figure 6.**

*A generalized strategic management process [10].*

The (**Figure 7)** further clearly highlighted the rising risk of draught which also reported that around 31% of the dams that are 'planned/will be planned' will face the consequences of draught. Such threats will have serious implications on those countries which has major reliance in its power requirements from hydropower.

Other equal risk associated as a contribution of rising climate change are due to the floods that will be of risks to the dams associated with hydropower (**Figure 8**).

#### *Technological Innovations and Advances in Hydropower Engineering*

#### **Figure 7.**

*The projected change in occurrence of draughts and risk to hydropower dams [11].*

#### **Figure 8.**

*The projected changes in occurrence of floods and risk to hydropower dams [11].*

The figure and the resources clearly highlighted the growing risk that are poised to hydropower dams now and for future dams making it more venerable and may result into catastrophic consequences if the dams fail resulting in the devastating impacts. Though hydropower is clean source of energy, the functional loss of a hydropower reservoir's capabilities as a result of sedimentation or siltation could have both economic and environmental consequences [12].

Hydropower development is costly affairs and it can further be worsened with unforeseen complex challenges pertaining to geology as well as technical. Such situations can also stimulate the unexpected increases of the project duration in construction phase and subsequent threats during the operations demanding more attention [13].

Researchers has pointed out the needs for sustainability assessment tools. The integrated model of hydropower sustainability assessment has been also proposed where 'conceptual framework', and appropriate 'indicators selection' has been identified where the former is quite simple and practical tool and later is more of selecting indicators taking stock of environment, economic as well as social aspects into consideration. The model proposed are as shown in **Figure 9** [14]:

#### **Figure 9.**

*Conceptual framework of the integrated hydropower sustainability assessment [14].*

The above study further concluded that especially while considering the impacts associated with sustainability in case of integrated framework need to consider threats like very tight fiscal allocations and economic downturns that could further reduce sustainability.

Furthermore, there are series of risks as well as uncertainty associated with hydropower project. Some pertaining risks includes environmental, social, economic, policies and regulations, technological and financial, natural and many more which needs to be managed else threatening the availability along with sustainability of hydropower. This calls for effective risk managements in hydropower for ascertaining the sustainability [15]. On top of this one should clearly understand the internal and external risks which has direct impacts on hydropower sustainability. Internal risks are more associated with planning, accusation and execution measures including cost whereas the external factors mostly would be associated with weather, natural calamities and political measures.

Using expert judgment and a multi-criteria scoring technique, assess the potential risks of a hydro energy project. This risk assessment tool examines technical, economic, environmental, social, and regulatory threats. Researchers has presented some of the pertaining risks, its impacts and the mitigation measures as proposed are as shown in **Figure 10**.

The same figure also has shown how risks, impacts and mitigation can be looked in case of hydropower that need to be looked from the view of achieving the sustainability as well as ensuring the safe operation. Impacts level needs to be critically viewed and measures that need to be devised. Such risks, impacts and mitigation will be varied based on the location and capacity of the hydropower along with prevailing geographical as well as political issues.

This study found out that site geology and environmental issues are two external risks for hydropower projects. Hence risk assessment tools will prove handier in cost cutting as well as enhance deeper understanding of risks associated (**Figure 11**).

The appropriate planning and implementation are crucial as this will identify the actual size of hydro power plant, exact location of dam and other

#### **Figure 10.**

*The risks, impacts and mitigation approaches [16].*

#### **Figure 11.**

*The phase wise risk assessment (Figure 11) [16].*

infrastructures, the right size and type of dam, right rating of turbine its capacity and types. Such system level approaches need to be materialized through proper research and evidences during the design phase whereas proper executions for quality assurance during the construction phases. Furthermore, the conditional aspects during its operation will hold equal importance in assurance sustainability issues pertaining to hydropower plant as well as power system networks as a whole.

The Low Impact Certification for the certification of hydropower with major focuses on ecological impacts by the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) was initiated in 2000. Subsequent to it the Green Hydro Power certification was initiated by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG) which is more to safeguard the ecological integrity of river system. The inconsistency in sustainability assessment of hydropower have been highlighted by researchers and the development of hydropower sustainability assessment protocol (HSAP) by International Hydropower Association (IHA) which was launched in 2008 which aims in providing the more enhanced assessment tool for hydropower sustainability. This HSPA protocol has been extensively used for the development of multiple hydropower of large-scales including the 'Three Gorges Hydropower' in China. This protocol was endorsed by World Bank in 2014 recognizing it as a tool for developing hydropower [17].

#### *Hydropower and Sustainability DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99833*

Researchers pointed out that more of methodologies and models were incorporated for sustainable hydropower development but those were more of theoretical frameworks and there is a need for quantitively evaluate the sustainability aspects of the hydropower. One method to address this as proposed by researchers are information entropy and dissipative structure theory which are combined together so as to provide an appropriate method for evaluation research in terms of sustainable hydropower development capacity [18].

There is need to understand the environmental as well as social effects of the hydropower as these two factors are most significant indicators which are highlighted in case of sustainable hydropower. Hence the use of 'Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and 'Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) are implemented too. These ESIA and SEA are two tools that are used for addressing the impacts from various sectors (i.e. infrastructure, energy and mining as major sectors and processing and manufacturing sectors as minor sources). ESIA and SEA are internationally practiced, often legally enshrined, tools for assessing the consequences of policies, plans, programs, and projects from an integrated SDG perspective [19].

The innovative solutions in context of hydropower development especially the dams and other major infrastructures needs to be explored so as to achieve hydropower sustainability as there is tremendous potentials and benefits from hydropower. In the meantime, to address sustainability the incorporation of climate change needs to be incorporated especially in building the dams associated with large scales hydropower [20].

#### **5. Conclusions**

This chapter highlighted the need of hydropower thinking from the perspective of sustainability. As hydropower projects happen to be one of the main contributors in power sector and that too a promising renewable source, there are serious questions in relation to sustainability. As the sustainability aspects of hydropower has to be address from planning, construction as well as operation stages of hydropower, it requires validated tools and protocols that have been tested and verified. This is essential so address the risk associated with hydropower from internal (those that are pertaining due to types, capacities, expected working environments etc. for hydropower which need to be taken care during planning and design stage) as well as the external factors. Usually, the external risks are major sources of impacts to sustainability of hydropower a clear insight and needful intervention where possible is needed in timely manner. The two vital external risks of concern covering major impacts are ecological and social risks factors which has to be quantitively analyzed and address so as to ascertain the sustainability of the hydropower project and making it as a promising investment option for meeting growing demand of electric power from renewable energy sources.

*Technological Innovations and Advances in Hydropower Engineering*

### **Author details**

Hemlal Bhattarai Centre for Lighting and Energy Efficiency Studies (CLEES), Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Royal University of Bhutan, Dewathang, Bhutan

\*Address all correspondence to: b.hemlal@gmail.com

© 2021 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

*Hydropower and Sustainability DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99833*

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[13] World Bank. (2020, May 26). Project Information Document (PID). https://documents1.worldbank.org/ curated/en/930481591860622408/text/ Concept-Project-Information-Document-PID-Agus-Pulangi-Hydropower-Complex-Rehabilitation-Project-P173728.tx

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### *Edited by Yizi Shang, Ling Shang and Xiaofei Li*

It has been more than 140 years since water was used to generate electricity. Especially since the 1970s, with the advancement of science and technology, new technologies, new processes, and new materials have been widely used in hydropower construction. Engineering equipment and technology, as well as cascade development, have become increasingly mature, making possible the construction of many high dams and large reservoirs in the world. However, with the passage of time, hydropower infrastructure such as reservoirs, dams, and power stations built in large numbers in the past are aging. This, coupled with singular use of hydropower, limits the development of hydropower in the future. This book reports the achievements in hydropower construction and the efforts of sustainable hydropower development made by various countries around the globe. These existing innovative studies and applications stimulate new ideas for the renewal of hydropower infrastructure and the further improvement of hydropower development and utilization efficiency.

Published in London, UK © 2022 IntechOpen © Jpreat / iStock

Technological Innovations and Advances in Hydropower Engineering

Technological Innovations

and Advances in Hydropower

Engineering

*Edited by Yizi Shang, Ling Shang* 

*and Xiaofei Li*