Hydropower Facilities Research Articles

Impacts of Large Hydropower Projects on the Ecological Environment of Watersheds: A Case Study of Ertan Reservoir Area

Ertan Hydroelectric Power Station was the first large-scale water conservancy facility in western China, and with its completion, the ecological pattern of the reservoir area has changed dramatically; however, the changes in habitat quality before and after the completion of the reservoir have not yet been systematically monitored and evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI), used CA-Markov model and GeoDetector, evaluated the ecological environment of the Ertan Reservoir area in each five-year period from 1995 to 2020, simulated the ecological quality of the Ertan Reservoir area in 2025, and revealed the nine drivers and their interactions affecting ecological quality of the watershed from a geologic point of view, and finally put forward reasonable planning and targeted protection suggestions. Finally, rational planning and targeted protection recommendations were proposed. The main results were as follows: (1) After the completion of the Ertan Hydropower Station, the spatial distribution of the RSEI in the reservoir area varied significantly, with a trend of “rising-declining-rising” in time, and the area share of “good” area increased the most, by 19.83%. (2) The degree of grading of each driving factor had different degrees of influence on the size of the RSEI value, and its interaction enhanced the spatial differentiation of the RSEI. (3) The average value of the RSEI is 0.66 in 2025, and the ecological environment quality will show a steady improvement in five years. The results of the study can provide a reference for constructing RSEI indicators for large hydropower facilities.

CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HORIZONTAL SYNCHRONOUS MOTORS EQUIPPING THE HYDRO AGGREGATES IN HIGH-POWER ENERGY PUMPING STATIONS

In this paper, the authors present modelling and analysis of the operating characteristics of the synchronous motor with electromagnetic excitation, for driving the centrifugal pump that equips hydro aggregates in high-power energy pumping stations, motor powered from fixed or adjustable voltage sources. Two operating scenarios were considered, namely: the stationary operation of the synchronous motor fed from an ideal, controllable voltage source and the case of its supply from the industrial network. For solving, algorithms and calculation programs developed in the Mathcad programming environment were designed. For example, a representative case study of one of the three identical hydro aggregates from one of a high-power energy pumping station of an existing hydropower facility in Romania was chosen. The hydro aggregate is driven by a horizontal synchronous motor with electromagnetic excitation powered at medium voltage (6 kV).

Development of Methodologies and Software for Design, Simulation and Optimization of Oil Hydraulic Cylinders of Large Dimensions and Power

As part of the research carried out in the field of processing systems and the production process of oil-hydraulic cylinders of large dimensions and power, the specifics of fluid power transmission, in the functioning of hydropower facilities, were analyzed. The research also includes the optimization of the physical–mathematical model of non-stationary processes, which take place inside the chamber of a large hydrocylinder. In parallel with the definition of the optimization model, the work parameters that affect the process of fluid flow and piston movement were determined. The operating and technological construction parameters of the hydraulic cylinder, which most significantly affect the operation of the hydraulic cylinder, were defined, and the observed parameters were optimized, based on which a prototype with improved characteristics compared to existing solutions was realized.

The implications of further reservoir development on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia: trade-offs between hydropower, irrigation and transboundary water security

Abstract We evaluate the implications for Ethiopia and Egypt of two dams that could be built upstream of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), in combination with hypothetical Ethiopian irrigation schemes upstream of these Blue Nile hydropower facilities. Two new dams could increase average annual hydropower on the Blue Nile River from Lake Tana to Khartoum and the Main Nile River from Khartoum to Aswan by almost 50% (30.2 TWh yr−1 to 44.7 TWh yr−1). A system-wide analysis of the expected financial benefits of various development scenarios reveals little financial justification for substantial irrigation withdrawals upstream of the GERD. Withdrawing 5 billion cubic meters annually upstream of the GERD without additional hydropower development would reduce total average annual hydropower generation on the Blue and Main Nile River by 10.9% (3.3 TWh yr−1). If two new dams were constructed upstream of the GERD, withdrawing this volume would cause a 15.2% (6.8 TWh yr−1) reduction. 1 and 5 bcm yr−1 of withdrawals upstream of the three dams would also affect water supply downstream, reducing average annual outflow from Sudan’s Merowe Reservoir by 1.1% (0.7 bcm yr−1) and 6.2% (4.1 bcm yr−1), respectively, and by <1% (0.2 bcm yr−1) and 3.3% (1.8 bcm yr−1) at Egypt’s High Aswan Dam (HAD) Reservoir, respectively. Whilst the annual probability of the HAD storage falling below 60 bcm and invoking its current drought management policy is estimated to currently be 0.085, these two scenarios of upstream withdrawals would increase that annual probability to 0.111 and 0.452 respectively.

Short-term load distribution model for giant cascade serial diversion-type hydropower stations

With the development of complex cascade serial diversion-type hydropower plants (CSDHP) in Southwest China, it has become imperative to study short-term scheduling challenges that are distinctive to this type of hydropower facility. Unlike conventional cascade hydropower stations, which have large reservoirs to regulate the outflow between stations, the CSDHP system consists of several diversion-type hydropower plants connected in series, requiring strict matching of turbine discharge between upstream and downstream facilities. In addition, these plants impose complex operation constraints, such as multiple units sharing one tunnel, which greatly increases the difficulty of short-term scheduling. This paper proposes a short-term optimal scheduling model for CSDHP systems aimed at achieving efficient load distribution among units while minimizing water consumption. The model takes into account the strict matching of turbine discharge and the complex constraints of multiple units sharing one tunnel. Subsequently, the model is transformed into a mixed integer linear programming problem using specified linearization techniques, with complexity further addressed via an iterative resolution method. A case study of a cascade illustrates the model’s efficacy in facilitating effective unit load distribution under complex hydraulic and electrical constraints, which substantially reduces the system’s water consumption by up to 6.1% during the dry season and 1.8% during the flood season, and reducing the number of crossing forbidden zones by 50.0% and 52.0%, respectively. The result shows the models’ potential to enhance day-ahead scheduling for the CSDHP system.

Fault diagnosis of induction motor in the cooling water supply system using a multi-channel data fusion transformer with limited sample conditions*

Abstract Induction motors play a vital role in the cooling water supply system of hydropower facilities. However, it is not feasible to collect sufficient fault samples in a hydropower station. The scarcity of labeled samples poses a challenge in developing powerful diagnostic models with high classification accuracy. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a multi-channel data fusion strategy based on a transformer for feature enhancement. Initially, the original signals are transferred into non-overlapping single-channel data patches to preserve correlation features across different channels. Next, temporal and spatial attention modules are applied to process the data patches, which can learn and fuse temporal and spatial information, respectively. Subsequently, the data patches are embedded to retain position information and represent fault-related features through class embedding, which are further processed by a transformer encoder with self-attention mechanisms. Finally, the classification task is achieved by using a multilayer perceptron layer connected to the class embedding. While dealing with limited training samples, the proposed method can learn robust features that are beneficial to improve the fault diagnosis ability of induction motors. The comparison of the proposed method with three basic models and two improved methods demonstrates the superiority of the proposed method in accuracy and feature clustering performance under limited sample conditions. In addition, ablation experiments demonstrate the necessity of each module in the proposed method.

Economic, Societal, and Environmental Impacts of Available Energy Sources: A Review

The impacts that the available energy sources have had on society, the environment, and the economy have become a focus of attention in recent years, generating polarization of opinions. Understanding these impacts is crucial for rational evaluation and the development of strategies for economic growth and energy security. This review examines such impacts of the main energy resources currently exploited or in development, including fossil fuels, geothermal, biomass, solar, hydropower, hydrogen, nuclear, ocean, and wind energies on society through analysis and comparison. It is essential to consider how high energy demand influences energy prices, the workforce, and the environment and to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each energy source. One significant finding from this review is that the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) may vary substantially depending on the energy source used and show substantial ranges for different applications of the same energy source. Nuclear energy has the lowest LCOE range whereas ocean energy has the highest LCOE range among the nine energy sources considered. Fossil fuels were found to have the most substantial societal impacts, which involved on the positive side providing by far the largest number of jobs and highest tax revenues. However, on the negative side, fossil fuels, biomass, and nuclear energy sources pose the most significant health threats and social well-being impacts on communities and societies compared to other energy sources. On the other hand, solar, ocean and wind energy pose the lowest risk in terms of health and safety, with solar and wind also currently providing a substantial number of jobs worldwide. Regarding environmental consequences, fossil fuels generate the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and have the highest adverse impacts on ecosystems. In contrast, nuclear, ocean, solar and wind energies have the lowest GHG emissions and low to moderate impacts on ecosystems. Biomass, geothermal and hydropower energy sources have moderate to high ecosystem impacts compared to the other energy sources. Hydropower facilities require the most materials (mainly concrete) to build per unit of energy generated, followed by wind and solar energy, which require substantial steel and concrete per unit of energy generated. The lack of substantial materials recycling causes associated with solar and wind energy sources. All the energies that use thermal power generation process consume substantial quantities of water for cooling. The analysis and comparisons provided in this review identified that there is an urgent need to transition away from large-carbon-footprint processes, particularly fossil fuels without carbon capture, and to reduce the consumption of construction materials without recycling, as occurs in many of the existing solar and wind energy plants. This transition can be facilitated by seeking alternative and more widely accessible materials with lower carbon footprints during manufacturing and construction. Implementing such strategies can help mitigate climate change and have a positive impact on community well-being and economic growth.

Groundwater Depletion. Are Environmentally Friendly Energy Recharge Dams a Solution?

Groundwater is a primary source of drinking water; however, groundwater depletion constitutes a common phenomenon worldwide. The present research aims to quantify groundwater depletion in three aquifers in Greece, including the porous aquifers in the Eastern Thermaikos Gulf, Mouriki, and the Marathonas basin. The hypothesis is to reverse the phenomenon by adopting an environmentally acceptable methodology. The core of the suggested methodology was the simulation of groundwater using MODFLOW-NWT and the application of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) by using water from small dams after the generation of hydropower. Surface run-off and groundwater recharge values were obtained from the ArcSWAT simulation. The predicted future climatic data were obtained from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX), considering the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and the climate model REMO2009. Groundwater flow simulations from 2010 to 2020 determined the existing status of the aquifers. The simulation was extended to the year 2030 to forecast the groundwater regime. In all three sites, groundwater depletion occurred in 2020, while the phenomenon will be exacerbated in 2030, as depicted in the GIS maps. During 2020, the depletion zones extended 11%, 28%, and 23% of the aquifers in Mouriki, the Eastern Thermaikos Gulf, and the Marathonas basin, respectively. During 2030, the depletion zones will increase to 50%, 42%, and 44% of the aquifers in Mouriki, the Eastern Thermaikos Gulf, and the Marathonas basin, respectively. The simulation was extended to 2040 by applying MAR with the water from the existing dams as well as from additional dams. In all sites, the application of MAR contributed to the reversal of groundwater depletion, with a significant amount of hydropower generated. Until 2040, the application of MAR will reduce the depletion zones to 0.5%, 9%, and 12% of the aquifers in Mouriki, the Eastern Thermaikos Gulf, and the Marathonas basin, respectively. Apart from over-pumping, climatic factors such as long periods of drought have exacerbated groundwater depletion. The transformation of dams to mini-scale hydropower facilities combined with MAR will benefit clean energy production, save CO2 emissions, and lead to an economically feasible strategy against groundwater depletion.

Combining InSAR Technology to Uncover the Deformation Factors and Mechanisms of Landslides in the Baihetan Hydropower Station Reservoir Area

With the operation of the world’s second-largest hydropower facility, Baihetan Hydropower Station, the risk of landslide deformation has increased. To address these potential threats, we employed Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology for a large-scale landslide investigation and comprehensively revealed the deformation mechanisms of landslides near the dam site. Our research indicates that the alternating geological features of soft and hard rock layers are the primary causes of landslides, especially the fracturing phenomena of vast amounts of mudstone upon contact with moisture. This leads to the reservoir’s left bank’s dip-slope being susceptible to slip and tensional failure, while the reservoir’s right bank’s reverse slope is more prone to plastic flow and tensional damage. Rapid water level changes and altered rainfall patterns are key factors that trigger landslide instability. Furthermore, we also explored the relationship between fault zones, seismic activity, and landslides, particularly noting the fully coupled state of the southern end of the Daliangshan fault zone, which might further exacerbate landslide deformation.

Analysis of the effect of high falling water on the performance of hydroelectric power plants using whirpool type turbines

A hydroelectric power plant (PLTA) uses the flow of water as a source of energy. Evaluating the output of hydropower facilities, including the optimal height of the waterfall, turbine torque, electrical power, generator power, and generated efficiency, was the aim of the study. This study intends to investigate the power, torque, and efficiency that may be produced by a hydroelectric power plant with a whirlpool-type turbine, as well as how the height of falling water influences the operation of the plant. The experiment in this study measures three different waterfall heights with five different blade configurations. The study on the hydropower prototype involved three trials that collected data on torque, power, efficiency, waterfall height, and water discharge. The PLTA Prototype's best potential head in Test 3 was determined to be 0.01143, with a height of 0.67 meters, no sluice, and a diameter of 0.0625 meters. The lowest water outflow was discovered at a head of 0.55 meters with a water debit of 0.01036. The third attempt, which featured a sluice opening with a diameter of 0.0625 meters and a height of 0.67 meters (head), used the most water power in the experiment. The testing yielded the following results: 75.13 watts of water power, 5.16 watts of generator power, 0.233 N.m. of torque, 2.63 watts of turbine power with a generator load 3.73 watts without one, and 6.87% efficiency. Data gathered from the hydropower prototype's operation can be used to construct testing instruments for use in laboratories

Role of supranational bodies in regulating water cooperation: Central Asian experience

AbstractGrowing environmental problems in recent decades have made the water issue one of the most important agenda items in relations between the countries of the Central Asian (CA) region. Because water is a strategic resource and, at the same time, the foundation of social and economic development in CA, it is possible to assume that the settlement of water allocation problems will become a driving force for the development of regional interaction. The study aims to analyze the importance of supranational bodies in regulating water cooperation between the states of the CA region. The methodological basis of the study was built based on a combination of such theoretical methods of cognition as historical, structural‐functional, forecasting, and political and legal analysis, as well as an institutional approach. The main study results consist of assessing the efficiency of water resources use in the CA region, formulating areas of cooperation between the states in this sector after independence and up to the present, analyzing the role of functioning and under‐construction hydropower facilities in stimulating the resolution of water and energy challenges, and formulating initiatives of the countries of the region in solving existing water problems. In addition, it identified points of convergence in transboundary water use, analyzed steps to further deepen cooperation in water allocation among CA countries, and assessed the activities of supranational bodies in regulating water cooperation. The work can be applied in research and applied areas: It can be useful for scientists whose interests include water management issues in the CA region, as well as for government officials in the CA countries who implement policies in this area.

A Methodology for Designing a Fish-Friendly Turbine Rotor Applied to High-Power Generation

Most large hydropower facilities employing conventional hydraulic turbines, e.g., Francis, Kaplan, or Bulb turbines, etc., cause significant harm to fish, resulting in high mortality rates, during turbine operation. This results from strong injury-inducing mechanisms at the rotor, including shear stresses, pressure variations, and pressure drop through the rotor. The study outlines a methodology for designing a fish-friendly turbine that is suitable for high-power generation applications. This methodology for a hydraulic channel design within the turbine rotor was derived based on classical fundamental applications of a rotor design, supplemented by subsequent assessments that incorporate fish-friendly design parameters that have been documented in the existing literature. A spiral curve characterized by a linear angle variation between the rotor's inlet and outlet was employed to project the blade geometry. Here, the Göttingen hydrofoil series was used, while a second-order polynomial function guided the hub design. Both of these parametrizations sought to enhance the turbine's hydraulic efficiency. Minimum Absolute Pressure, Strain Rate, and Pressure Variation Rate intervals were established as assessment criteria for fish survival for certain species, as has also been previously explored in the literature. The findings were outlined in terms of hydrodynamic performance and flow behavior within the rotor. An improvement in hydraulic efficiency was observed, transitioning from a Preliminary Turbine geometry design to an Optimized Turbine Geometry design. The turbine rotor was optimized using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, generated from a Design of Experiments (DOE). Modifications to the hydrofoil type, the sweep angle, and the trailing edge angle of the blades were all made, coupled with integrations of assessments considering fish-friendly parameters.

Sediment Sources, Erosion Processes, and Interactions with Climate Dynamics in the Vakhsh River Basin, Tajikistan

The Vakhsh River is tributary to the Amu Dayra, supporting numerous hydropower facilities as well as irrigation and community water supplies. High sediment loads are major concerns for these uses, yet little is known about the spatial distribution of the dominant sediment sources or their connectivity to fluvial systems. Here, we address this gap by combining findings from a series of field expeditions, remotely sensed climate and vegetation assessments, systematic sediment sampling, hydrograph analysis, and a review of local literature. Our preliminary findings show that various mass wasting processes (e.g., landslides, debris flows, rockfall, dry ravel, bank failures) constitute the major connected sources of sediment, particularly in the mid- to downriver reaches, many of which are unaffected by land use. Surface erosion, including the large gullies in loess deposits of the lower basin, are more affected by poor agricultural practices and road runoff, and can supply large loads of fine sediment into the river. Climate trends detected through remote sensing show an increase in rainfall in the lower half of the basin from spring to early summer while solid precipitation has increased in the eastern half in March. These trends may lead to more runoff and increases in sedimentation if they continue.

Design and Optimization of an Alkaline Electrolysis System for Small-Scale Hydropower Integration

Alkaline electrolysis systems are currently considered to be suitable for large-scale hydrogen production. Previous research has primarily focused on integrating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into water electrolysis systems. However, intermittent issues stemming from the sporadic nature of renewable energy sources have led to the introduction of energy storage systems (ESSs) to address these intermittent challenges. Extensive research has been conducted on the efficiency and operational aspects of these systems. In contrast to other renewable energy sources, hydropower offers the advantages of stable output and high utilization, making it a promising solution for overcoming intermittent issues. In this study, we propose the design of an optimized alkaline electrolysis system tailored for small-scale hydropower generation. This approach allowed us to confirm the efficiency of a small-scale hydropower-based hydrogen production facility and the analysis of hydrogen production costs under diverse scenarios. Notably, the optimal selling price per kilogram of hydrogen was determined to be USD 15.6 when the operational time exceeded 20 h, albeit indicating a challenging market supply. Under the consideration of various scenarios and government subsidies, this study revealed that a USD 10/kgH2 subsidy or 24 h of continuous operation achieved break-even points in the sixth and eighth years, respectively. Ultimately, the findings underscore the necessity for essential measures, including government backing and technological advancements in small-scale hydropower facilities, to enhance the economic viability of the green hydrogen market in South Korea.

Quantum Key Distribution for Critical Infrastructures: Towards Cyber-Physical Security for Hydropower and Dams.

Hydropower facilities are often remotely monitored or controlled from a centralized remote control room. Additionally, major component manufacturers monitor the performance of installed components, increasingly via public communication infrastructures. While these communications enable efficiencies and increased reliability, they also expand the cyber-attack surface. Communications may use the internet to remote control a facility's control systems, or it may involve sending control commands over a network from a control room to a machine. The content could be encrypted and decrypted using a public key to protect the communicated information. These cryptographic encoding and decoding schemes become vulnerable as more advances are made in computer technologies, such as quantum computing. In contrast, quantum key distribution (QKD) and other quantum cryptographic protocols are not based upon a computational problem, and offer an alternative to symmetric cryptography in some scenarios. Although the underlying mechanism of quantum cryptogrpahic protocols such as QKD ensure that any attempt by an adversary to observe the quantum part of the protocol will result in a detectable signature as an increased error rate, potentially even preventing key generation, it serves as a warning for further investigation. In QKD, when the error rate is low enough and enough photons have been detected, a shared private key can be generated known only to the sender and receiver. We describe how this novel technology and its several modalities could benefit the critical infrastructures of dams or hydropower facilities. The presented discussions may be viewed as a precursor to a quantum cybersecurity roadmap for the identification of relevant threats and mitigation.

Estimated capital costs of fish exclusion technologies for hydropower facilities

Hydropower is a reliable source of renewable energy, and its future expansion is likely to be in the form of either smaller new stream development (NSD) projects or powering existing non-powered dams. Thresholds for entrainment risk to fish and the requirements for fish exclusion at hydropower facilities often differ depending on the species involved, the characteristics of the facility, and the goals of stakeholders, but little quantitative information is present within the literature regarding the specific costs of fish exclusion measures. Cost data associated with protection, mitigation, and enhancement (PM&E) measures related to positive barrier screening were identified using keyword searches of an existing environmental mitigation cost data set and manual extraction from regulatory licensing documents available in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) eLibrary. This approach yielded a total of 50 p.m.&E mitigation measures with estimated capital construction costs pertaining to positive barrier screens and represented <10% of the 171 total FERC project dockets available in the data set. These data were highly skewed toward conventional relicensing projects, as <7% were associated with NSD projects. Results indicate highly variable costs are associated with fish screening, with flow-normalized costs one to two orders of magnitude higher for screening with the highest exclusion capability (≤0.09 in. spacing) compared with coarser screening (1–2 in.). These data provide an initial baseline for estimating exclusion costs for hydropower development and may help developers consider options for more fish-friendly generation technologies, though gaps remain relating to a lack of data, particularly for NSD projects.

Machine-Learning-Based Precipitation Reconstructions: A Study on Slovenia’s Sava River Basin

The Sava River Basin (SRB) includes six countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro), with the Sava River (SR) being a major tributary of the Danube River. The SR originates in the mountains (European Alps) of Slovenia and, because of a recent Slovenian government initiative to increase clean, sustainable energy, multiple hydropower facilities have been constructed within the past ~20 years. Given the importance of this river system for varying demands, including hydropower (energy production), information about past (paleo) dry (drought) and wet (pluvial) periods would provide important information to water managers and planners. Recent research applying traditional regression techniques and methods developed skillful reconstructions of seasonal (April–May–June–July–August–September or AMJJAS) streamflow using tree-ring-based proxies. The current research intends to expand upon these recent research efforts and investigate developing reconstructions of seasonal (AMJJAS) precipitation applying novel Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) techniques. When comparing the reconstructed AMJJAS precipitation datasets, the AI/ML/DL techniques statistically outperformed traditional regression techniques. When comparing the SRB AMJJAS precipitation reconstruction developed in this research to the SRB AMJJAS streamflow reconstruction developed in previous research, the temporal variability of the two reconstructions compared favorably. However, pluvial magnitudes of extreme periods differed, while drought magnitudes of extreme periods were similar, confirming drought is likely better captured in tree-ring-based proxy reconstructions of hydrologic variables.

Energy Storage and Environmental Justice: A Critical Examination of a Proposed Pumped Hydropower Facility in Goldendale, Washington

AbstractRenewable energy sources such as solar and wind produce electricity intermittently, creating challenges in balancing electricity supply and demand for increasingly renewable‐dominated grids. This is driving efforts to increase energy storage infrastructure, such as pumped hydroelectric power storage (pumped storage). In this research, we examine environmental justice issues in a case study of a proposed pumped storage facility in Goldendale, Washington, which has been highly controversial and actively contested by a coalition of Indigenous and environmental communities. Drawing from frameworks of political ecology, just transitions, and Indigenous environmental justice, we focus on processes of consultation and engagement around permitting as a key arena for environmental justice contestation, and critically examine the driving assumptions behind the project. Despite popular framings of renewable energy infrastructures as new and green, we argue that the environmental justice impacts of this and similar projects represent continuity with past patterns of settler colonialism and extractive development.

Predictive Analytics for Hydropower Fleet Intelligence

A primary challenge in hydropower industry is the ability to maintain cost-competitiveness, reliability, and security of hydropower assets through evolving power system contexts and aging of the fleet. Maintaining cost-effective and reliable operations under these conditions is expected to require new modernization and maintenance paradigms for changing contexts. Changes in existing practices for O&amp;M will require an understanding of the current state and health of hydropower assets, and the impact of changing paradigms on asset health and reliability. The Hydropower Fleet Intelligence project is developing and evaluating standardized methodologies and analysis tools for data-driven asset reliability and management technologies for hydropower, leading to eventual predictive maintenance planning, repair/replacement decision making, and asset-reliability and cost-optimized operations. A key question is the feasibility of using existing data sets at hydropower facilities to perform assessments of asset reliability. This document uses data from hydropower facilities to assess the potential for using available analytics methods for asset reliability estimates. In addition to reliability assessments, the feasibility of using existing analytics techniques for several other potential applications is discussed. Finally, a case study that a data-driven model is trained to learn nominal operations via vibration data from an asset of a certain plant, and then utilized to identify anomalies on a similar asset from a different plant, highlighting the generic use of proposed Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) approaches.

Timing is everything; operational changes at a pumping station with a gravity sluice to provide safe downstream passage for silver European eels and deliver considerable financial savings

Catadromous European eel (Anguilla anguilla) are a critically endangered fish species due in part to in-river anthropogenic barriers (e.g., pumping stations, weirs, hydropower facilities). European legislation stipulates that safe downstream passage must be provided at hazardous intakes. Where present, gravity sluices have the potential to act as safe and low-cost downstream passage for seaward migrating silver eels at pumping station, but operational changes are required. This study used catchment-wide and fine-scale acoustic telemetry to investigate if operational changes (OC) at a pumping station (PS) with a co-located gravity sluice (GS) facilitated safe downstream passage for silver European eels. Specifically, night-time pump operations were ceased, river levels prior to sluicing were elevated and the GS was opened during key eel migration windows, i.e., at night during the new moon phase in autumn. No tagged eels passed through any pumps and the majority (2018 = 87.5%, 2020 = 88.9%) that approached the PS during OC passed downstream through the GS. Most eels approached during the first period of night sluicing after release (2018 = 73.9% and 2020 = 76.5%) and passed downstream during the first sluice event they experienced at the PS (2018 = 66.7% and 2020 = 75.0%). During the final approach prior to passage, very few retreats back upstream occurred at a median (IQR) distance of 34 (7.25) m from the GS and were predominantly a short distance (1–8 m). Overall, OC at a PS with a GS are considered a win-win-win, despite opening the sluice for <3% of the study period, given safe downstream passage was maximised, the financial benefits of sluicing water (∼£14,670 in direct operational costs over two years) and the relative ease of implementation.