EU hydropower only at half of its growth potential

EU hydropower only at half of its growth potential: Eurelectric

 Hydropower in the EU has only reached half of its maximum potential growth, according to a new report by European power industry associationEurelectric.

“More than 50% of technological hydropower capacity can still be deployed in the EU,” said Ghislain Weisrock, public affairs officer at France’s GDF Suez, as he presented the report at a Eurelectric conference in Brussels Monday.

Weisrock, who is also a member of Eurelectric’s hydropower working group, said thatadditional hydropower output of up to 276 TWh/year is still technically feasible in the EU.

If Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey are included this jumps to 600 TWh/year, Weisrock said.

“Hydropower in the EU accounts for 69% of total renewable energy output,

making it one of the most important electricity sources in Europe,” Weisrock said, citing 2008 figures from the International Energy Agency.

The EU needs still more peaking capacity because of the rapid growth in intermittent wind and solar power production. “Hydropower provides the flexibility to stabilize electricity systems,” he said.

Hydropower faces many socio-economic challenges such as the impact of the EU water frameworkdirective

 

and also gaining public approval for new sites. But Weisrock said it remains the most attractive of the renewables, not just because it is a more mature technology but also because of its storage capability and cost.

Hydropower is the cheaper renewable energy power in most cases,

even than wind, but it needs long-term investment. Challenges for hydropower include the development of additional potential, the optimization of existing plants and the use of pumped storage facilities,” he said.

 

The EU’s water framework directive has had a large impact on hydropower — most of hydro’s potential to be developed is affected by ‘No-Go’ areas under the directive.

 

In its report Eurelectric also rejected attempts by transmission system operators to claim ownership of pumped storage plants, which are useful for balancing power grids. “Any rebundling attempt — as for instance has been the case in Spain or Italy — should be rejected; there is no legal ground or any justification for such a request,” the report said.

“TSOs have to dispatch — they don’t have to compete with generators. It creates distortions in the market when they are both buyers and sellers,” an Italian industry source told Platts.

According to European Commission data there will be an

 

8-9 TWh overall fall in total hydropower production by 2020, equal to 2.3-2.6% of total hydropower.

This is because of environmental limits required by the EU water framework directive, Oyvind Vessia, policy officer in the renewable unit of the EC’s energy department, told the conference. –Jane Morecroft, newsdesk@platts.com

 

EU hydropower only at half of its growth potential

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Hydro Energy ~ The Benefits of Generating Hydro Power

As the costs of energy are increasing every single solitary day, there are many advantages in seeking hydro energy options.

Energy is usually created from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels, including petroleum. But with these sources depleting very fast hydro energy appears to be a excellent option, particularly due to the fact it is a replenishable supply of energy. Environmentally friendly finds of power like hydro energy, blowing wind power, etc. are also quite clear and therefore environmental friendly. Yielding hydro power does not lead to any pollution not like in the lawsuit of burning up of fossil fuels.

For generating hydro power you need topography the place the probable and kineticpower of rivers and streams may be applied to rotate turbines. After you position the fundamental infrastructure, hydro energy is quite reliable providing you with in line withelectricity. This proves very helpful particularly for industrial metropolitan areas where supremacy shortage could lead to enormous deficits for industries. The hydro energymaking is quite cost effective in contrast to hundreds of thousands of bucks that are normally spent in performing research to identify areas the place fossil fuels might be located.

Once hydro energy locations can create big numbers of current, it proves quite helpful to in fact combine it using geo-targeted supremacy grid, therefore fixing the power difficulties in an area.

Therefore hydro power not only cuts straight down as a cost of creating power but also assists in supplying additional energyto prep for those days when fossil fuel keep in the earth is absolutely exhausted.

Moreover, hydro power does not contaminate the drinking water obtain by the addition of oils or greases. The water which is rented for yielding hydro power is came back again as it is again to a similar water supply. Hence hydro power does not impact aquatic lifestyle in any way.

The generation of hydro powercan help in cutting down the use of fossil fuels which cannot be replaced.

Also hydro energy production aids in preventing green house gas emissions that happens once fossil fuels are utilized.

Eco sensitive regions will be definetely preserved in hydro power generation as forests will not be cut lower or cleared for discovering petrol or other fossil fuels.

Hydro Energy ~ The Benefits of Generating Hydro Power

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Hydropower is world’s best source of renewable electricity

The theme of this year’s HydroPower Conference, to be held in Prague is “Practical Solutions for a Sustainable Future”.

Hydropower is the world’s number one source of renewable electricity and represents over 16% of the world’s power generating capacity.

In Europe, many hydro plants are more than 40 years old and therefore need refurbishing. In addition, Deutsche Bank Research estimates that nearly 40% of Europe’s economically viablehydropower potential remains to be developed.

So optimising Europe’s existing hydro assets, while using innovative technologies to exploit and maximise the efficiency of Europe’s untapped hydro resources will be key discussion topics at the conference.

As the world’s leading provider of hydropower products and services, having supplied key equipment for 25% of global capacity, Alstom’s participation in the conference will be key in shaping the debate. Alstom experts will discuss how to meet Europe’s hydro market needs and highlight its in-house turnkey, refurbishment and service capabilities including:
Alstom’s Hydro PlantLife™ programme for services and rehabilitations; a comprehensive, cost-effective approach to keep hydro assets performing at their maximum.
Alstom’s Plant Integrator™ concept comprising turbine, generator, Balance-of-Plant, control systems and hydro-mechanicals, all optimised to make the best out of hydropower assets.
Alstom’s world-leading pumped -storage hydro power plant solutions*.

At the conference, Alstom experts will present the following technical papers:
Ventilation and cooling of high speed machines, optimization potential using modern tools and field measurements
Reversible pump turbines: appropriate solutions for every head
New synchronization method for ring gates: development and testing
Development plan of Alstom Tidal in Stream Energy Converters
Measuring and managing PSP radial thrust: scale model/prototype comparison

In addition to the 5 papers being presented, Alstom will have 4 papers published in the proceedings.
Assessment of insulation condition of hydro generator stator bars after 40 years in service
Rotor-stator interaction in high head pump turbines: dynamic response of the structure
An innovative lifting lock gate design to increase fatigue resistance
SAM turbines, a competitive solution for low head small hydro projects

Come to Alstom’s booth 30 to wind down and have a cup of coffee and/or talk to our experts about the most advanced hydro solutions on the market today.

* Pumped storage is the most efficient and flexible means of storing energy on a large scale, adapting production to consumption and optimally balancing the grid. The technology enables hydro power plant owners to adjust the amount of energy they need to pump. This means they can adjust the level of power needed when pumping at night or when there is a light load, which in turn means that conventional thermal power plants that are operated for frequency adjustment can be stopped. This helps utilities operate their fleets more economically while reducing CO2 emissions.

The technology also allows utilities to earn revenues from balancing the network’s frequency (ancillary services).

The variable speed element of the hydro turbines and hydro power generators enable utilities to match supply to demand to the minute, pumping when demand marginally drops, and releasing when demand marginally rises.

This helps them reach maximum efficiency of their fuel portfolios and maximise revenues. It also means load balancing can be achieved using a clean, renewable energy source.

Hydropower is world’s best source of renewable electricity

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