Digitalization and real-time control to mitigate environmental impacts along rivers: Focus on artificial barriers, hydropower systems and European priorities

During the digital decade, Europe faces two important challenges: the green transition and the digital transition. These are interconnected issues, and equally important for the European future. In the hydropower sector, that globally represents the main source of renewable energy production, digitalization and real-time control (DRTC) are emerging strategies. DRTC is usually associated with energy generation and Operation and Maintenance (O&M). However, DRTC can be conceived and implemented also to reduce hydropower impacts on the environment, improving the environmental performances of the sector. In this study, the main applications, case studies, challenges and limitations of DRTC application to the hydropower sector are discussed as a potential key strategy for the achievement of the Green Deal and Water Framework Directive targets. DRTC applications are discussed with reference to atmosphere (how to control and reduce methane emissions), lithosphere (chemicals and sediments), hydrosphere (water quality, hydropeaking, control of ecological and environmental flow, withdrawals and releases), biosphere (riparian vegetation, fish habitat and migration), and anthroposphere (mitigation of adverse impacts of combined sewer overflows). The discussed results show the current status of these technologies and their Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and can represent a starting point for future researches and projects.

QUARANTA Emanuele;  BEJARANO Maria Dolores;  COMOGLIO Claudio;  FUENTES-PÉREZ Juan Francesco;  PEREZ-DIAZ Juan Ignacio;  SANZ-RONDA Francisco Javier;  SCHLETTERER Martin;  SZABO-MESZAROS Marcell;  TUHTAN Jeffrey; 

2023-04-18

ELSEVIER

JRC131228

0048-9697 (online),   

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723011051,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC131228,   

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162489 (online),