Hydraulic machinery | Turbines under review
New research highlights how operational optimisation and advances in impulse turbine technology are supporting more sustainable hydropower development
Right: Hydraulic turbines have a key role to play in the energy transition
EVALUATING AND OPTIMISING turbine operation and maintenance can help enhance efficiency, reduce impacts, and extend service life. Indeed, as recent research has shown, integrated, multi-objective turbine management that aligns techno-economic, lifecycle, and ecological considerations can support hydropower competitiveness within the energy transition. In their study published in Processes, Lakatos et al
Aerial view of the 166m high Vidraru hydropower dam in Romania
explain that the type of turbine used, mechanical wear, operating regime, and maintenance strategies affect not only energy conversion but also operating costs and environmental impact. To fully understand the complexity, challenges, and opportunities associated with hydraulic turbines and hydropower plants in the context of the transition to a sustainable energy system, case studies can be a useful tool. Through examining hydropower plants from different parts of the world, the authors say this
helps to highlight how turbine selection, operating strategy, maintenance planning, and infrastructure upgrades directly influence energy performance and environmental impact.
Case studies The 220MW Vidraru Hydropower Plant, supported by a
166m high arch dam, on the Arges River in Romania is located in a complex hydrographic context. It not only plays a strategic role in the production of electricity, but also in regional hydrological regulation. The authors say the Vidraru analysis serves as a
concrete example of how circular economy principles can be applied in energy infrastructure by maximising the multiple benefits of a hydropower system, energy, water, flood control, and minimising negative externalities. The integration of hydrological, economic, and energy data in an adapted lifecycle assessment framework demonstrates the viability of a replicable model for other hydropower plants in the region or in Central and Eastern Europe. The Vidraru Hydropower Plant, the authors add, becomes a reference model in terms of the balance between the technical performance of the turbines, the sustainable use of water, and the economic added value generated over time.
In Nepal, the 26kW Mahadevsthan micro-hydropower
plant uses a cross-flow turbine mounted on a gross head of approximately 25m. It serves a small rural community and has undergone a rigorous sustainability assessment
34 | June 2026 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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