European project developing innovative and sustainable technology to recover hidden hydro energy.
Innovative Energy Harvesting from Hidden Hydro Sources
Extracting Energy from Vortex Induced Vibrations
Sustainable Hydropower Technology for Digital Hydraulic Networks
Innovative Energy Harvesting from Hidden Hydro Sources
Extracting Energy from Vortex Induced Vibrations
Sustainable Hydropower Technology for Digital Hydraulic Networks
Untapped Hydropower Potential in Low-Head Hydraulic Networks
Limitations of Current Conventional Hydropower Solutions
Unlocking Cost Savings and Efficiency with Hydropower in Municipal Networks
The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) is a key stepping-stone to facilitate the transition towards a climate-neutral energy system through the development of low-carbon technologies in a fast and cost- competitive way. The climate-neutral energy system strategy will bring Europe in the leading position of being the first continent characterized by a complete decarbonized society in 2050. It is a matter of fact that to achieve such an ambitious goal, it is necessary to increase the share of energy production from renewable energy sources. Among renewables, one of the leading roles is certainly played by hydropower whose technology is facing a new boost in terms of innovation due to the new challenges posed by the Clean Energy Transition (CET).
To meet the ambitious goals posed by the Clean Energy Transition, hydropower growth is still expected in the future and, in particular, the upgrade and refurbishment of existing plants and the powering of non-powered dams or new stream-reach are primary goals. Small hydropower systems are increasingly considered an essential renewable energy source worldwide mainly because of their key advantages in terms of storage capacity and greater programmability in comparison with the other main renewable energy sources
H-HOPE will consist mainly of research and innovation activities focusing on progressing technological solutions (multi-disciplinary design approach + efficient, adaptive and low-cost PTO) to bring it from TRL 3 to TRL 5. In particular:
Advancing Technology Readiness Levels through Multi-Physics Design
Moving to the Next Level: Validating Hydropower Technology in Real Operating Conditions
Researchers in a broad range of fields (social, economy, engineering), research alliances (EERA, IEA, etc.), technical experts in the industrial sector related to fluid and energy systems, scientific experts from the industry (mechanical, electric, civil, environmental management), company pre-development departments.
SME, individuals, who build these systems and sell them to industrial alliances (Hydropower Europe, etc.), residential and commercial prosumers producing small amounts of power to remote sites without the need to stop/start device locally
All operators, including water supply operators, policy makers, inspector bodies, investors, prosumers, general public and NGOs
- Identify unrealised hydropower in non-hydropower hydraulic systems and in free-flowing water streams, understanding theoretical hidden hydropower potential (power, energy) estimation per region in the EU, identifying potential regions as well as exploring the potential for commercial and residential prosumers.
- Develop H-HOPE technology of extracting energy from vortex induced vibrations by using an innovative multi-physics design strategy and an innovative PTO, increasing the efficiency and flexibility of the energy harvesting unit. This will be demonstrated for low head and small reservoir or water body size, while being low cost for economic viability and environmentally sustainable.
- Implementation of state-of-the-art measurement and testing infrastructure to test demonstrators in relevant environments (wastewater, fresh water, impaired water quality, etc.) and in different sectors, improving the capacity of hydraulic laboratories.
- Set up a H-Hope platform for sharing all scientific background, technical details, design plans and instructions to individual users, individual and commercial prosumers – enabling bottom-up CET, improving RES penetration, and adhering to EU goals on CO2 reduction and to bring together industry, politics, researchers and stakeholders from EU regions to promote new hydropower technologies, focusing on renewable prosumers in particular.
Outcomes
1) Advance European leadership
Advance the European scientific basis, leadership and global role in the area of sustainable hydropower
2) Additional sustainable hydropower
– create additional sustainable hydropower capacity to the existing fleet, maintain and advance European technological competitiveness in the sector, thus supporting the EU goals for climate protection, energy independence and economic growth
3) Enhanced water supply systems
Enhance sustainability of added hydropower capacities by addressing social, economic and environmental aspects and by promoting prosumer renewable energy in cities and communities.
Impact
The H-HOPE hydropower technology will allow to tap the huge potential of EU hydropower hidden in hydraulic systems. It will reduce the cost and improve efficiency of renewable energy and their value chains, potentially de-risking renewable energy and fuel technologies with a view to their commercial exploitation.
H-HOPE will facilitate the integration of renewable energy solutions in decentralized and remotely placed energy consuming areas and making the water networks more resilient, reinforce the European scientific basis, produce electricity in remote areas of cities and communities as well as in remote infrastructures, allowing a progressive digitalization of these areas/infrastructures. The resulting real-time operation will increase the resilience of these areas.
H-Hope will set the stage for a market of Energy Harvesters, which will digitalize remote dispersed sensor networks, allowing real-time monitoring, reducing maintenance costs and improving management. As a result, managers will also be able to operate their water and energy systems more efficiently, potentially saving energy and costs.
Bringing State of the Art Technology for the Hydraulic Network
Eight case studies, located in six European countries (Figure 9) will provide real operational data to the H- HOPE project. These case studies represent all the targeted applications of the H-HOPE technology: freshwater supply network, wastewater network, large water streams, hot water supply network and lagoon flows. Data will be properly post-processed to be used in the design strategy of the technology.
DIY Platform
H-HOPE derived devices computer-aided design (CAD) models will be converted and saved in the stereolithography file format (STL), an actual CAD file format for additive manufacturing. The STL files will be further processed by slicing software, converting a 3D model into thin layers into G-code for several most often used types of 3D printers – making 3D models of H-Hope devices ready to be printed from polymeric materials. H-HOPE will address manufacturers to participate in the platform exploitation through selling their components or services through the DIY platform. Furthermore, the online calculator will enable even users with no significant technical background to explore and exploit the innovative H-HOPE hydropower technology.The H-HOPE consortium consists of 15 organisations from 9 European countries (Italy, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Austria, Slovenia, Czechia, Belgium, Iceland) representing different competences and expertise with clear and well-identified roles (Table 7). The consortium ensures the involvement of public authorities, municipalities and prosumers by having on board three utilities (Vattenfall, Edison and OR) and two municipalities (IZSU and Acque Veronesi) as well as the support of three other municipalities (Aques de Barcelona, Ferlach-AT and Venice-IT). The H-HOPE consortium constitutes a high-profile international partnership.
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