Annex XVI: Hidden Hydro and Untapped Hydropower Opportunities on Existing Infrastructures
BACKGROUND
IEA Hydro is undertaking research on “Hidden Hydro and Untapped Hydropower Opportunities on existing infrastructures” through its collaborative program. The term “hidden hydro” generally addresses the part of hydropower potential which is either based on data not included in the national hydropower potential surveys or can be used in a more rational way than nowadays. The aim of such development is to increase the hydroelectric production with little or no incremental environmental/social impact.
For the IEA Annex XVI, the following cases are considered:
- New plants equipping non powered dams, environmental flow outlets, and existing water infrastructures such as drinking and wastewater networks, ship locks, irrigation canals, tailrace channels of large hydropower plants, desalination stations, cooling and other industrial systems.
- Refurbishment of non-optimized existing plants by improving or enhancing the performances/production of existing hydropower facilities or utilizing novel or improved electrical or mechanical components (double-regulation, variable speed,… ) or new materials (geomembrane for waterways, …)