Abstract
In times of the energy transition and the intensified expansion of renewable energy systems, this article presents an optimization approach for run-of-river power, i.e., dynamic water-level regulation. Its basic idea is to use river sections influenced by backwater more evenly via the operating regime of a hydropower plant. In contrast to conventional dam and weir water level management, the head of the reservoir is not shifted toward the weir while the discharge rate increases but is kept in position by temporarily raising the water level. This generates a greater head for higher discharge rates of an operating regime. As can be shown using an example, this has a direct effect on the performance and, in interaction with the discharge duration curve, on the annual work of the plant. The dynamic water-level regulation, thus, represents an environmentally compatible, energy-efficient optimization for run-of-river hydropower plants.
Highlights
Water 2021, 13, 2983. https://The transition of electrical energy supply away from fossil fuels, as well as from nuclear power in Germany, toward a purely regenerative power supply means a massive shift toward regenerative energy sources such as onshore and offshore wind power, biomass, photovoltaics, and hydropower, which have been used in Europe for a long time
As the degree of hydropower development on large watercourses in Germany is already at a high level [2], hydropower on small watercourses has been essentially consolidated since the introduction of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) [3] with its guaranteed remuneration, and the construction of new weirs for hydropower use in Germany currently appears almost impossible in terms of licensing; the efficiency of hydropower plants plays an essential role for their operators
In the case of dynamic water-level regulation, on the other hand, the head of reservoir target in the headwater Zweir is gradually increased by means of the control element, such that the decrease in head is minimized as the tailwater level rises
Summary
The transition of electrical energy supply away from fossil fuels, as well as from nuclear power in Germany, toward a purely regenerative power supply means a massive shift toward regenerative energy sources such as onshore and offshore wind power, biomass, photovoltaics, and hydropower, which have been used in Europe for a long time. As the degree of hydropower development on large watercourses in Germany is already at a high level [2], hydropower on small watercourses has been essentially consolidated since the introduction of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) [3] with its guaranteed remuneration, and the construction of new weirs for hydropower use in Germany currently appears almost impossible in terms of licensing; the efficiency of hydropower plants plays an essential role for their operators In this context, the sections of watercourses that are already affected by dust should continue to be used for energy production and should be used for this as efficiently as possible.
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