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Is There a Residual and Hidden Potential for Small and Micro Hydropower in Europe? A Screening-Level Regional Assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Emanuele Quaranta

    (European Commission Joint Research Centre)

  • Katalin Bódis

    (Institute of Advanced Studies (iASK))

  • Egidijus Kasiulis

    (Vytautas Magnus University)

  • Aonghus McNabola

    (Trinity College Dublin)

  • Alberto Pistocchi

    (European Commission Joint Research Centre)

Abstract

Small hydropower plants (installed power below 10 MW) are generally considered less impacting than larger plants, and this has stimulated their rapid spread, with a developing potential that is not exhausted yet. However, since they can cause environmental impacts, especially in case of cascade installations, there is the need to operate them in a more sustainable way, e.g. considering ecosystem needs and by developing low-impacting technologies. In this paper, an assessment was conducted to estimate how the environmental flow and the plant spatial density affect the small hydropower potential (considering run-of-river schemes, diversion type, DROR) in the European Union. The potential of DROR is 79 TWh/y under the strictest environmental constraints considered, and 1,710 TWh/y under the laxest constraints. The potential of low-impacting micro technologies (

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:36:y:2022:i:6:d:10.1007_s11269-022-03084-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-022-03084-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Quaranta, Emanuele & Muntean, Sebastian, 2023. "Wasted and excess energy in the hydropower sector: A European assessment of tailrace hydrokinetic potential, degassing-methane capture and waste-heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    2. Bragalli, Cristiana & Micocci, Domenico & Naldi, Giovanni, 2023. "On the influence of net head and efficiency fluctuations over the performance of existing run-of-river hydropower plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1170-1179.
    3. Garrett, Kayla P. & McManamay, Ryan A. & Witt, Adam, 2023. "Harnessing the power of environmental flows: Sustaining river ecosystem integrity while increasing energy potential at hydropower dams," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

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