6533b836fe1ef96bd12a1528

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Identification of Potential Locations for Run-of-River Hydropower Plants Using a GIS-Based Procedure

Lorena LiuzzoVincenzo SammartanoGabriele Freni

subject

Control and OptimizationSoil and Water Assessment Toolsmall hydropower020209 energy0208 environmental biotechnologyDrainage basinEnergy Engineering and Power TechnologyContext (language use)GIS-based procedure02 engineering and technologyrun-of-riverlcsh:Technologyrainfall-runoff modelling0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineeringSWATElectrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering (miscellaneous)HydropowerSmall hydrogeographygeography.geographical_feature_categorylcsh:TRenewable Energy Sustainability and the Environmentbusiness.industryrenewable energy020801 environmental engineeringRenewable energyIdentification (information)Environmental sciencebusinessSurface runoffWater resource managementEnergy (miscellaneous)

description

The increasing demand for renewable and sustainable energy sources has encouraged the development of small run-of-river plants. Preliminary studies are required to assess the technical and economic feasibility of such plants. In this context, the identification of optimal potential run-of-river sites has become a key issue. In this paper, an approach that is based on GIS tools coupled with a hydrological model has been applied to detect potential locations for a run-of-river plant. A great number of locations has been analyzed to identify those that could assure the achievement of different thresholds of potential power. The environmental and economic feasibility for small hydropower projects in these locations has been assessed and a multi-objective analysis has been carried out to highlight the most profitable configurations. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been calibrated to simulate runoff in the Taw at Umberleigh catchment (South West England). The results showed that, in the area of study, different locations could be selected as suitable for run-of-river plants.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2019-09-06Energies
10.3390/en12183446http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en12183446