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Supporting Renewables’ Penetration in Remote Areas through the Transformation of Non-Powered Dams

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  • Thomas Patsialis

    (Chair of Sustainable Urban Design, Institute for Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein, 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein)

  • Ioannis Kougias

    (Directorate for Energy, Transport and Climate, Energy Efficiency & Renewables Unit, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission, 21027 Ispra, Italy)

  • Nerantzis Kazakis

    (Lab of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, Department of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Nicolaos Theodossiou

    (Division of Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Peter Droege

    (Chair of Sustainable Urban Design, Institute for Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein, 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein)

Abstract

Supplying power to remote areas may be a challenge, even for those communities already connected to the main grid. Power is often transmitted from long distances, under adverse weather conditions, and with aged equipment. As a rule, modernizing grid infrastructure in such areas to make it more resilient faces certain financial limitations. Local distribution may face stability issues and disruptions through the year and—equally important—it cannot absorb significant amounts of locally-produced power. The European policy has underlined the importance of energy production in local level towards meeting energy security and climate targets. However, the current status of these areas makes the utilization of the local potential prohibitive. This study builds on the observation that in the vicinity of such mountainous areas, irrigation dams often cover different non energy-related needs (e.g., irrigation, drinking water). Transforming these dams to small-scale hydropower (SHP) facilities can have a twofold effect: it can enhance the local energy portfolio with a renewable energy source that can be regulated and managed. Moreover, hydropower can provide additional flexibility to the local system and through reservoir operation to allow the connection of additional solar photovoltaic capacities. The developed methodological approach was tested in remote communities of mountainous Greece, where an earth-fill dam provides irrigation water. The results show a significant increase of renewables’ penetration and enhanced communities’ electricity autarky.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Patsialis & Ioannis Kougias & Nerantzis Kazakis & Nicolaos Theodossiou & Peter Droege, 2016. "Supporting Renewables’ Penetration in Remote Areas through the Transformation of Non-Powered Dams," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:12:p:1054-:d:85178
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Antonio Colmenar-Santos & Elisabet Palomo-Torrejón & Enrique Rosales-Asensio & David Borge-Diez, 2018. "Measures to Remove Geothermal Energy Barriers in the European Union," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-29, November.
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    6. Chang-Gi Min & Mun-Kyeom Kim, 2017. "Impact of the Complementarity between Variable Generation Resources and Load on the Flexibility of the Korean Power System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, October.
    7. Jurasz, Jakub & Ciapała, Bartłomiej, 2017. "Integrating photovoltaics into energy systems by using a run-off-river power plant with pondage to smooth energy exchange with the power gird," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 21-35.
    8. Zida Song & Quan Liu & Zhigen Hu & Chunsheng Zhang & Jinming Ren & Zhexin Wang & Jianhai Tian, 2020. "Construction Diversion Risk Assessment for Hydropower Development on Sediment-Rich Rivers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    9. Jacopo Carlo Alberizzi & Massimiliano Renzi & Maurizio Righetti & Giuseppe Roberto Pisaturo & Mosè Rossi, 2019. "Speed and Pressure Controls of Pumps-as-Turbines Installed in Branch of Water-Distribution Network Subjected to Highly Variable Flow Rates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-18, December.
    10. Emmanouil, Stergios & Nikolopoulos, Efthymios I. & François, Baptiste & Brown, Casey & Anagnostou, Emmanouil N., 2021. "Evaluating existing water supply reservoirs as small-scale pumped hydroelectric storage options – A case study in Connecticut," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).

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