| Digitalisation


Flexibility development should address storage needs of future electricity systems and the role of hydropower as a contributor to energy system resilience. The impacts to the environment, the authors go on to discuss, such as hydropeaking and the effect of hydropower on the continuity of underwater life, must be addressed, and where possible transboundary dimensions of hydropower sustainability standard should be considered. “Flexibility development must occur through advances in digitisation and innovation”, they state, adding that although the European hydropower sector exhibits a good level of digitalisation, it has not been fully exploited. As their report states: “The latest technological solutions do not seem to have been uniformly adopted across European countries, confirming the need for knowledge transfer between stakeholders. For instance, the unmanned operation of hydropower plants must be improved, as must be the number of pumped storage type hydropower plants be increased.” Furthermore, Europe’s ageing hydropower fleet “offers a great opportunity for promoting innovative refurbishment strategies to increase the sustainability of hydropower worldwide”.


Swedish digitalisation Investment manager Downing is partnering


with HYDROGRID to improve the efficiency and sustainability of its hydropower operations in Sweden. The partnership will focus on digitalising Downing’s 45MW fleet of 32 hydropower plants, using advanced technology to boost performance and automation. Various modules from full cascade optimisation to basic inflow integration will be implemented. Ulf Wennilsjo, Portfolio Manager and General Manager of Downing Sweden, said that HYDROGRID’s technology is a cornerstone of their digitalisation journey, helping to future-proof Downing’s small-scale cascades. The project includes the introduction of an advanced water management platform to support the first Downing hydropower plant’s entry into the capacity market under FCR-N and FCR-D. Downing will also collaborate with OneNordic for operations and maintenance to ensure effective data communication and operational efficiency.


The water sector The water sector is described as transitioning into its


so-called ‘fourth revolution’ as it moves towards the more sustainable and resilient management of water. With global climate change increasing uncertainty about water availability and quality, the implementation of digital technologies is helping it to react to rising water demands that are compounded by the impacts of climate change and water quality issues. As Christine Walter explains in her research published in Geoforum, the water industry is “encountering the mega-trend of digitalisation”. Through adopting digital technologies, the sector has the opportunity to address the 21st-century water risks early on. New technologies will increase the knowledge of water supply, water demand and other water data which can be used to inform public policy or new investments.


References


https://dihydro-project.eu/2024/09/13/embracing-digital-transformation-in- hydropower-with-di-hydro/


The new role of sustainable hydropower in flexible energy systems and its technical evolution through innovation and digitalisation by Elena Vagnoni, Dogan Gezer, Ioannis Anagnostopoulos, Giovanna Cavazzini, Eduard Doujak, Marko Hočevar, Pavel Rudolf. Renewable Energy Volume 230, September 2024, 120832 https://doi.org/10.1016/j. renene.2024.120832


Digital Technologies for the Future of the Water Sector? Examining the Discourse on Digital Water by Christina Walter. Geoforum Volume 148, January 2024, 103918 https://doi. org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2023.103918


Dekeyrel, S & Fessler, M. (2023). Digitalisation: an enabler for the clean energy transition.


Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 42(2), 185–209. https://doi.org/10.1080/0264 6811.2023.2254103


www.waterpowermagazine.com | November 2024 | 25


Digital technologies will also allow for the collection and sharing of data more easily between different spatial scales and manage things such as the water flow from afar, through remote monitoring. Additionally, new relations are being formed through the digital technologies themselves. From the University of Augsburg in Germany,


Walter “portrays a positive and optimistic future” for the development of the water sector which can be achieved through the implementation of digital technologies.


European Union Digital solutions can play a pivotal role in bolstering


efforts to scale-up renewable energy. New research in the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, says that in order to fully unlock the potential of digitalisation in the transition towards sustainable energy systems, the EU and its member states need to: Accelerate work on a common European energy data space, characterised by interoperable data standards, effective incentives for data sharing and adequate data protection and privacy safeguards for consumers. Put in place the necessary safeguards regarding cybersecurity of energy networks to ensure that digital transformation does not jeopardise the resilience of EU energy systems. Use financial tools to accelerate the deployment of digital solutions in the energy sector and equip existing networks with the necessary digital infrastructure.


Above: The hydropower sector is described as undergoing a profound digital transformation


Below: Corporate executive activating AI aided predictive maintenance on a tidal energy plant via the industrial internet of things


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