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Assessment of hydropower potential in wastewater systems and application to Switzerland

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  • Bousquet, Cécile
  • Samora, Irene
  • Manso, Pedro
  • Rossi, Luca
  • Heller, Philippe
  • Schleiss, Anton J.

Abstract

Energy recovery through local hydropower generation is a way of coping with high electricity expenditures in wastewater systems (WWS). Installing small hydropower plants within WWS is already in some countries eligible for incentive policy mechanisms to renewable energy production. Some examples exist of hydropower units operating in wastewater treatment plants, showing that there is an interest for this type of small-hydro, but there is still a lack of awareness of its potential. This study presents a methodology to assess the potential for hydropower in wastewater systems, either upstream or downstream of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). An algorithm was developed in two phases, first to estimate the annual electricity production in selected areas based on GIS data and the inflows to each WWTP and second to carry out an economic evaluation of the feasibility of each scheme considering local investment costs and local electricity sell tariffs. The developed method was applied to the case study of Switzerland, covering more than 41'000 km2 and approximately 8 million inhabitants. Nineteen profitable sites were identified in the country with cumulated 9.3 GWh/year of potential energy production. Among these sites, six are already equipped for hydropower production representing 3.5 GWh/year and validated the proposed methodology.

Suggested Citation

  • Bousquet, Cécile & Samora, Irene & Manso, Pedro & Rossi, Luca & Heller, Philippe & Schleiss, Anton J., 2017. "Assessment of hydropower potential in wastewater systems and application to Switzerland," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 64-73.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:113:y:2017:i:c:p:64-73
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.062
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    8. Zhou, Yanlai & Chang, Li-Chiu & Uen, Tin-Shuan & Guo, Shenglian & Xu, Chong-Yu & Chang, Fi-John, 2019. "Prospect for small-hydropower installation settled upon optimal water allocation: An action to stimulate synergies of water-food-energy nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 668-682.
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    11. Emanuele Quaranta & Katalin Bódis & Egidijus Kasiulis & Aonghus McNabola & Alberto Pistocchi, 2022. "Is There a Residual and Hidden Potential for Small and Micro Hydropower in Europe? A Screening-Level Regional Assessment," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(6), pages 1745-1762, April.
    12. Kucukali, Serhat & Al Bayatı, Omar & Maraş, H. Hakan, 2021. "Finding the most suitable existing irrigation dams for small hydropower development in Turkey: A GIS-Fuzzy logic tool," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 633-650.
    13. Petras Punys & Linas Jurevičius, 2022. "Assessment of Hydropower Potential in Wastewater Systems and Application in a Lowland Country, Lithuania," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-23, July.
    14. Guan, Hongyu & Yin, Xiuxing & Jiang, Wei, 2024. "Towards the integration of distributed renewables: Operation analysis of pumped storage system under off-design condition based on CFD," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    15. Zhao, Chuandang & Wang, Fengjuan & Xu, Jiuping & Tan, Cheng & Østergaard, Poul Alberg, 2024. "Optimal planning and operation for a grid-connected solar–wind–hydro energy system in wastewater treatment plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    16. Boroomandnia, Arezoo & Rismanchi, Behzad & Wu, Wenyan, 2022. "A review of micro hydro systems in urban areas: Opportunities and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    17. Jan K. Kazak & Małgorzata Świąder, 2018. "SOLIS—A Novel Decision Support Tool for the Assessment of Solar Radiation in ArcGIS," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-12, August.
    18. Derick Lima & Li Li & Gregory Appleby, 2024. "A Review of Renewable Energy Technologies in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-52, December.
    19. Mercedes Garcia, Angel V. & Sánchez-Romero, Francisco Javier & López-Jiménez, P. Amparo & Pérez-Sánchez, Modesto, 2022. "A new optimization approach for the use of hybrid renewable systems in the search of the zero net energy consumption in water irrigation systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 853-871.

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