We are proud to announce the publication of a new H-HOPE research article exploring the feasibility of deploying pico-scale hydropower technologies within existing water infrastructure.
Published in the Journal of Production Engineering, the article, “Multidimensional feasibility assessment of pico-scale hydropower technology deployment in water infrastructure,” was authored by Bjarnhedinn Gudlaugsson, Bethany Marguerite Bronkema, Ivana Stepanovic and David C. Finger from Reykjavík University.
The publication examines how vortex-induced vibration energy harvesters could capture energy from water flows and use it to power low-energy monitoring technologies, including IoT sensors installed within water distribution networks.
However, successful deployment depends on more than technical performance alone. The researchers therefore developed a multidimensional feasibility assessment framework covering five areas:
- Technical performance
- Economic feasibility
- Environmental impact
- Operational and deployment risks
- Social considerations
The framework was applied to a pilot case in Turkey, demonstrating how the feasibility of the technology can vary significantly depending on device design, hydraulic conditions and expected energy output.
The assessed scenarios produced between 2.7 W and 133 W of mechanical power, while the levelised cost of energy ranged from €11 to €1,036 per kWh. Environmental impacts ranged from 0.012 to 1.16 kgCO₂ equivalent per kWh.
Although the technology is not yet economically competitive with conventional renewable energy systems, the results highlight its potential for specific applications within water infrastructure.
Rather than producing large quantities of electricity, these systems could generate energy directly where it is needed, helping to power sensors that monitor flow, pressure, water quality and infrastructure conditions. This could reduce reliance on batteries and external power connections while supporting more digitalised and resilient water networks.
The publication provides H-HOPE with a valuable framework for identifying suitable deployment environments and understanding where pico-scale hydropower technologies can deliver the greatest technical, environmental and operational value.
The article is published as open access under the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 licence in the Journal of Production Engineering, published by the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences.
