Development of hydropower equipment for improving techno-economic efficiency and equipment resilience in refurbishment situations

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to at all of the following expected outcomes:

• Keeping the availability of the existing hydropower fleet with an important role in the future power market as flexible power suppliers.
• Increase technology leadership, competitiveness and technology export potential of European hydropower industry.
• Reduced cost and improved efficiency of refurbished hydropower installations.
• Enhanced sustainability of refurbished hydropower, taking fully into account and balancing between circular economy, social, economic and environmental aspects in line with the European Green Deal priorities including energy and climate targets and biodiversity.

Scope:

Development of hydropower equipment for improving techno-economic efficiency and equipment resilience in refurbishment situations of existing hydropower plants, which are outdated in respect of efficiency, power market interfacing, climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability, in particular also in respect of biodiversity. In scope are novel technologies, which improve the efficiency and economic parameters of existing hydropower plants during refurbishment without requiring substantial modification of the hydraulic system and by implementing circularity by design, e.g., low-friction and resistant materials and technical solutions that can minimize tear and wear in future operation modes. Solution should positively affect CAPEX and OPEX per kWh and also be compliant with improving the water quality of the underlying water body and in particular positively affect biodiversity. Socio-economic and environmental sustainability including SDGs, circular economy, social, economic and environmental aspects should be addressed on a life cycle basis.