| New projects


obstacles and in covering their knowledge needs by holding network meetings and knowledge transfer events. Since the start of the project, seven network meetings and three knowledge transfer events were held, during which the development of the decision support tool was also presented, which could, among others, simplify the handling of approval procedures, provide information to operators on which hydropower plant technology could be considered for their plant and which permits have to be obtained. The scientists at Hof University of Applied Sciences have also been actively presenting hydropower to the public. Together with the Bavarian broadcasting company, Bayerischer Rundfunk, a television report was made on two hydroelectric plants – a fish farm that already successfully generates energy through hydropower and a sewage treatment plant whose operators were interested in installing a turbine to generate energy. The wastewater treatment plant is a state-of-the-art water structure in which the volume flows of treated water can be controlled and released in larger volumes at short intervals. This makes it possible in such a plant and in traditional wastewater treatment plants, to generate electricity from hydropower at the time of energy demand. In order to be able to make precise statements, however, further investigations are still necessary. These two examples clearly demonstrated to a broad television audience that untapped hydropower potential in existing water plants could be used and that it is possible to integrate this with plant operation in order to generate base-load capable renewable energy at the point of consumption. Furthermore, in the first quarter of 2022,


measurements will be carried out on exemplary hydropower plants of the participating operators to determine their potential. Flow velocity, volume flow and head, among others, will be determined and these measurements will be supplemented with further data in the course of the project, which will, for example, provide information on how large the available outflows in Bavarian fish farms and sewage treatment plants are. This will make it possible to roughly estimate the theoretical potential for energy generation in existing water systems in Bavaria. Of course, individual assessments are then necessary for each site, but this data will serve as a basis for hydropower interest groups to show the kind of energy supply that could be possible theoretically. These measurements, together with the transfer of knowledge, the development of the decision support tool and the scientific presentation of hydropower to the public, contribute to supporting the desired energy turnaround in Germany through clean hydropower. Initial measurement results will be presented at the planned network meeting in October, 2022. The Hof University of Applied Sciences team will leave the project at the end of 2022, and the project is proposed to be taken forward by participating actors in the network, or by an association.


Conclusion Through this network, the members and also newly


interested parties thus have numerous possibilities to improve their knowledge about the different aspects of hydropower, to benefit from a more neutral presentation of hydropower in the public and to


assess whether the acquisition of a hydropower plant or a modernisation is worthwhile with the help of the decision support tool. The tool highlights legal aspects, such as licensing procedures, and the project planning associated with a hydropower plant. Sub-aspects such as revitalisation, modernisation, new construction will also be handled. In addition, the selection of the turbine type is facilitated, as is the assessment of the profitability of the plant. Last but not least, a manufacturer database is available, which can help to find the right manufacturer for the desired hydropower plant depending on the region.


With the power of the turbines between 2 and 15,00 kW, and under the realistic assumption that these turbines run for 4000 hours per year, 8 to 60,000MWh of energy could be generated and 2 to 15,000 single family homes can be supplied with electricity. In Bavaria alone, there are over 500 cold water plants (ponds, etc.) that could potentially be equipped with hydropower plants; in the whole of Germany, there are well over 1000 of these and around 10,000 sewage treatment plants. Theoretically, there is enormous potential here that could be used for environmentally- friendly electricity generation and is currently still underutilized or untapped in many areas. ●


Above: Turbines, water wheels and hydroelectric screws are amongst the equipment provided by manufacturers in the network. Using the decision support tool, the selection of the turbine type is facilitated, as is the assessment of whether the acquisition of a hydropower plant or a modernization is worthwhile, aided by a manufacturer database that can help find the right manufacturer based on region © Hochschule Hof


www.waterpowermagazine.com | November 2022 | 19


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