HYDROCEN NEWS

Frequent temperature changes due to flexible hydropower production can weaken the insulation in the stator coils in the generator. Analyzes from HydroCen can help power producers plan more favorable production patterns that result in less wear and tear.

New knowledge about how sand and debris in the water wear down the turbine, can forward the development of turbines that are better equipped to operate in areas with a lot of sediments in the water. HydroCen researcher Nirmal Acharya has worked on a simplified model which extends the general erosion model predicted by previous studies.

The use of fictive storage can help to better document lost flexibility in the hydropower system when changing or introducing new environmental measures.

Researchers from HydroCen have taken over 400 DNA samples from Norwegian rivers. The aim is to analyze as many as 800 samples nationally to investigate how various forms of hydropower affect species living in the river. Ultimately, the goal is to help the hydropower industry produce more sustainable renewable energy.

The Balkan region gets most of its electricity from coal-fired power plants but is now looking for solutions that can give them a greener energy system.

Researchers are about to uncover the secret life of kelts in the river. These winter-survivors are important for securing the salmon population, and now researchers seek to help them pass obstacles in the river come spring. 

Researchers seek to use turbulent eddies in the river to safely guide salmon and eels past hydropower plants. 

Flexibility resources are crucial for a secure and robust power system. As increasing shares of variable renewable energy sources (VRE) are integrated into electricity systems, the need for flexibility and energy storage also increases. A new report describes the role of hydropower and the need for flexibility in the future electricity system.

Hydropower could play an important role in realizing a reliable renewable energy system in Europe, researchers, EU officials and industry members said at the launch of a new hydropower research programme.