The Future of Hydropower: Sustainable Practices, Innovative Technologies and New Scientific Insights

Hydropower is a key renewable energy source, especially in the European Union. The annual hydroenergy potentially available, i.e., the gross potential, is estimated to be about 3260 TWh/y in Europe, while the developed potential is estimated to be about 600 TWh/y. It has shifted from a flexible source of energy covering peak loads in a fossil fuel/dominated energy mix towards a function of supporting the flashier solar and wind sources available during the day. At the same time, pumped-hydropower and small hydropower have emerged as a key energy storage and valorization option. On the other side, eco-hydraulic and environmental aspects are always more considered, especially in regard to fish migration and fish habitat alteration. The scope of this Special Issue is to contribute to the understanding, development, and implementation of sustainable solutions to make hydropower more environmentally and economically attractive, both from a strategic point of view and from a technological one. Interesting topics are the rehabilitation of old plants, the optimization of hydraulic structures to increase their efficiency and eco-sustainability, fish protection by implementing fish friendly solutions (like fish friendly turbines and fish passages), the optimization of hydropower schemes to reduce environmental impacts, sustainable practices and strategic planning (both at the large and local scale) in light of the Water Framework Directive, and impact/environmental assessments of hydropower plants. Practical implications for engineering applications and for policy decisions are highly encouraged, with a focus on the European Union context.

QUARANTA Emanuele; 

2022-08-18

MDPI

JRC118910

2071-1050 (online),   

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/SustainableHydropower,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC118910,