IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v9y2017i12p2211-d120961.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Small-Scale Hydropower Plants in Sites of Environmental Value: An Italian Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Marianna Rotilio

    (Department of Civil, Architecture, Environmental Engineering, University of Studies of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Chiara Marchionni

    (Department of Civil, Architecture, Environmental Engineering, University of Studies of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Pierluigi De Berardinis

    (Department of Civil, Architecture, Environmental Engineering, University of Studies of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

Abstract

Since ancient times water has been accompanying technological change in the energy sector. Used as a source of hydraulic energy, it currently generates one-fifth of the global electricity production. However, according to collective imagination, hydroelectric plants are constructions of high environmental, acoustic, and visual impact, which may harm the preservation of the territory. This paper intends to address the topic of mini-hydropower that, in addition to providing the production of renewable energy, ensures a limited environmental impact even in delicate contexts with high landscape values, by elaborating a research methodology that makes these interventions compatible with them. The process of “global compatibility” checks developed to assess the feasibility of the intervention will be explained in the paper. We intend to describe here the research process undertaken to make the planning of this type of system sustainable, in contexts that need to be rehabilitated in relation both to the accessibility of citizens and to the environmental enhancement. The intervention planned will be characterized by the combined use of other renewable energy sources, in addition to water. The proposed methodology has been tested on a case study in the village of Roccacasale, in the province of L’Aquila.

Suggested Citation

  • Marianna Rotilio & Chiara Marchionni & Pierluigi De Berardinis, 2017. "The Small-Scale Hydropower Plants in Sites of Environmental Value: An Italian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:12:p:2211-:d:120961
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/12/2211/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/12/2211/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. François, B. & Borga, M. & Creutin, J.D. & Hingray, B. & Raynaud, D. & Sauterleute, J.F., 2016. "Complementarity between solar and hydro power: Sensitivity study to climate characteristics in Northern-Italy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 543-553.
    2. McHenry, Mark P., 2012. "Small-scale (≤6 kWe) stand-alone and grid-connected photovoltaic, wind, hydroelectric, biodiesel, and wood gasification system’s simulated technical, economic, and mitigation analyses for rural region," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 195-205.
    3. Aggidis, G.A. & Luchinskaya, E. & Rothschild, R. & Howard, D.C., 2010. "The costs of small-scale hydro power production: Impact on the development of existing potential," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2632-2638.
    4. Dursun, Bahtiyar & Gokcol, Cihan, 2011. "The role of hydroelectric power and contribution of small hydropower plants for sustainable development in Turkey," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 1227-1235.
    5. Schramm, Michael P. & Bevelhimer, Mark S. & DeRolph, Chris R., 2016. "A synthesis of environmental and recreational mitigation requirements at hydropower projects in the United States," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 87-96.
    6. Cyr, Jean-François & Landry, Mathieu & Gagnon, Yves, 2011. "Methodology for the large-scale assessment of small hydroelectric potential: Application to the Province of New Brunswick (Canada)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 2940-2950.
    7. Aslan, Yilmaz & Arslan, Oguz & Yasar, Celal, 2008. "A sensitivity analysis for the design of small-scale hydropower plant: Kayabogazi case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 791-801.
    8. Tanwar, Nitin, 2007. "Clean development mechanism and off-grid small-scale hydropower projects: Evaluation of additionality," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 714-721, January.
    9. Abbasi, Tasneem & Abbasi, S.A., 2011. "Small hydro and the environmental implications of its extensive utilization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 2134-2143, May.
    10. Paish, Oliver, 2002. "Small hydro power: technology and current status," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 6(6), pages 537-556, December.
    11. Caroline De Oliveira Costa Souza Rosa & Kelly Alonso Costa & Eliane Da Silva Christo & Pâmela Braga Bertahone, 2017. "Complementarity of Hydro, Photovoltaic, and Wind Power in Rio de Janeiro State," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-12, June.
    12. Botelho, Anabela & Ferreira, Paula & Lima, Fátima & Pinto, Lígia M. Costa & Sousa, Sara, 2017. "Assessment of the environmental impacts associated with hydropower," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 896-904.
    13. Johannes Idsø, 2017. "Small Scale Hydroelectric Power Plants in Norway. Some Microeconomic and Environmental Considerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-19, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Seungkook Roh & Jin Won Lee & Qingchang Li, 2019. "Effects of Rank-Ordered Feature Perceptions of Energy Sources on the Choice of the Most Acceptable Power Plant for a Neighborhood: An Investigation Using a South Korean Nationwide Sample," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Asante, Dennis & Ampah, Jeffrey Dankwa & Afrane, Sandylove & Adjei-Darko, Peter & Asante, Bismark & Fosu, Edward & Dankwah, Dennis Ampah & Amoh, Prince Oppong, 2022. "Prioritizing strategies to eliminate barriers to renewable energy adoption and development in Ghana: A CRITIC-fuzzy TOPSIS approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 47-65.
    3. Avi Friedman, 2017. "Sustainable and Resource—Efficient Homes and Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-3, December.
    4. Dylan Sheneth Edirisinghe & Ho-Seong Yang & Min-Sung Kim & Byung-Ha Kim & Sudath Prasanna Gunawardane & Young-Ho Lee, 2021. "Computational Flow Analysis on a Real Scale Run-of-River Archimedes Screw Turbine with a High Incline Angle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Efthymios Moutsiakis & Athena Yiannakou, 2023. "Small Hydroelectric Energy and Spatial Planning: A Methodology Introducing the Concept of Territorial Carrying Capacity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kelly-Richards, Sarah & Silber-Coats, Noah & Crootof, Arica & Tecklin, David & Bauer, Carl, 2017. "Governing the transition to renewable energy: A review of impacts and policy issues in the small hydropower boom," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 251-264.
    2. Kumar, Deepak & Katoch, S.S., 2015. "Sustainability suspense of small hydropower projects: A study from western Himalayan region of India," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 220-233.
    3. Laghari, J.A. & Mokhlis, H. & Bakar, A.H.A. & Mohammad, Hasmaini, 2013. "A comprehensive overview of new designs in the hydraulic, electrical equipments and controllers of mini hydro power plants making it cost effective technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 279-293.
    4. Zhang, Jin & Xu, Linyu & Li, Xiaojin, 2015. "Review on the externalities of hydropower: A comparison between large and small hydropower projects in Tibet based on the CO2 equivalent," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 176-185.
    5. Zafar Alam & Yoshinobu Watanabe & Shazia Hanif & Tatsuro Sato & Tokihiko Fujimoto, 2021. "Community-Based Business on Small Hydropower (SHP) in Rural Japan: A Case Study on a Community Owned SHP Model of Ohito Agricultural Cooperative," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Zafar Alam & Yoshinobu Watanabe & Shazia Hanif & Tatsuro Sato & Tokihiko Fujimoto, 2021. "Social Enterprise in Small Hydropower (SHP) Owned by a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) between a Food Cooperative and a Social Venture Company; a Case Study of the 20 kW Shiraito (Step3) SHP in It," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-10, October.
    7. Mishra, Sachin & Singal, S.K. & Khatod, D.K., 2011. "Optimal installation of small hydropower plant—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3862-3869.
    8. Purohit, Pallav, 2008. "Small hydro power projects under clean development mechanism in India: A preliminary assessment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 2000-2015, June.
    9. Zema, Demetrio Antonio & Nicotra, Angelo & Tamburino, Vincenzo & Zimbone, Santo Marcello, 2016. "A simple method to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of micro hydro power plants in existing irrigation systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 498-506.
    10. Okot, David Kilama, 2013. "Review of small hydropower technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 515-520.
    11. Xu, Jiuping & Ni, Ting, 2017. "Integrated technological paradigm-based soft paths towards sustainable development of small hydropower," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 623-634.
    12. Akikur, R.K. & Saidur, R. & Ping, H.W. & Ullah, K.R., 2013. "Comparative study of stand-alone and hybrid solar energy systems suitable for off-grid rural electrification: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 738-752.
    13. Oladosu, Gbadebo A. & Werble, Joseph & Tingen, William & Witt, Adam & Mobley, Miles & O'Connor, Patrick, 2021. "Costs of mitigating the environmental impacts of hydropower projects in the United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    14. Bhutto, Abdul Waheed & Bazmi, Aqeel Ahmed & Zahedi, Gholamreza, 2012. "Greener energy: Issues and challenges for Pakistan-hydel power prospective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 2732-2746.
    15. Kumar, Deepak & Katoch, S.S., 2015. "Small hydropower development in western Himalayas: Strategy for faster implementation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 571-578.
    16. Kumar, Deepak & Katoch, S.S., 2014. "Harnessing ‘water tower’ into ‘power tower’: A small hydropower development study from an Indian prefecture in western Himalayas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 87-101.
    17. Kahraman, Gökhan & Yücel, Halit Lütfi & Öztop, Hakan F., 2009. "Evaluation of energy efficiency using thermodynamics analysis in a hydropower plant: A case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1458-1465.
    18. Spänhoff, Bernd, 2014. "Current status and future prospects of hydropower in Saxony (Germany) compared to trends in Germany, the European Union and the World," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 518-525.
    19. Khan, Rakhshanda, 2015. "Small Hydro Power in India: Is it a sustainable business?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 207-216.
    20. Claudia Gutiérrez & Alba de la Vara & Juan Jesús González-Alemán & Miguel Ángel Gaertner, 2021. "Impact of Climate Change on Wind and Photovoltaic Energy Resources in the Canary Islands and Adjacent Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-32, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:12:p:2211-:d:120961. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.