04/10/23

VAPIDRO-ASTE and SMART Mini-Idro tools: hydropower potential assessment and scheme optimization

Project Final MeetingAosta, ItalyMay 24th 2012

Julio Alterach, Milena Vergata, Alberto Elli (RSE – Italy)

VAPIDRO-ASTE is a free GIS tool, developed by RSE (Italy) that calculates the remaining hydropower potential in a watercourse and the best locations of future plants, considering the Digital Elevation Model, the measured flows and the present withdrawals.

Assessment of the remainingAssessment of the remaininghydropower potential in watercourseshydropower potential in watercourses

Alpine Space Area

VAPIDRO – ASTE toolVAPIDRO – ASTE toolNew project creationNew project creation

Testing detailed area

When creating a new project, the whole map of the Apline Space is shown. The user is able to select and area where to work on.

In the frame of the SHARE project, a VAPIDRO-ASTE a customized version was produced. The version will be delivered including the Digital Elevation Model of the Alpine Space area:

Automatic river generationAutomatic river generation

VAPIDRO – ASTE toolVAPIDRO – ASTE toolArea selection, sub-basin computationArea selection, sub-basin computation

VAPIDRO-ASTE is able to create automatically the river network, departing from the Digital Elevation Model and the density factor

Watercourse selectionWatercourse selection Selection of the upstream and downstream points of the study case river.

VAPIDRO – ASTE toolVAPIDRO – ASTE toolArea selection, sub-basin computationArea selection, sub-basin computation

Power (kW)Power (kW)

Structural lenght

VAPIDRO – ASTEVAPIDRO – ASTEInstallable power and energyInstallable power and energy

It is possible to view the discharge, energy and power tables an charts in reference to the selected river. The “x” axis is the progressive distance measured from the closure.

Energy (kWh/year)Energy (kWh/year)

RestitutionsRestitutions

Discharges Discharges ((Measured Measured

or or naturalnatural)

WithdrawalsWithdrawals

VAPIDRO – ASTE toolVAPIDRO – ASTE toolBasins, Discharges, withdrawals and restitutionsBasins, Discharges, withdrawals and restitutions

The higher the number of sub-basins, the better the definition of watercourse results (discharge, energy, power).Automatic sub-basin calculationAutomatic sub-basin calculation

Withdrawals and restitutionsWithdrawals and restitutions

Installable power in a GIS mapInstallable power in a GIS mapVAPIDRO ASTE is able to visualize the results on GIS, as a map with a coloured scale (heads, energy and power, cost, benefits, financial parameters))

Installable Power (kW)Installable Power (kW)

Benefit/CostBenefit/Cost

Benefit/Cost relationship in a GIS mapBenefit/Cost relationship in a GIS map

Where to locate the best position of the intake powerhouse Where to locate the best position of the intake powerhouse system to exploit the residual hydropower potential?system to exploit the residual hydropower potential?

VAPIDRO – ASTE toolVAPIDRO – ASTE toolHydropower ExploitationHydropower Exploitation

VAPIDRO Hydropower Optimization Tool: tables and charts

VAPIDRO – ASTE toolVAPIDRO – ASTE toolHydropower ExploitationHydropower Exploitation

Intake

Powerhouse

VAPIDRO – ASTE toolVAPIDRO – ASTE toolHydropower ExploitationHydropower Exploitation

VAPIDRO Hydropower Optimization Tool: plants in the Map

Intake

Powerhouse

Intake

Powerhouse

Intake

Powerhouse

Intake

Powerhouse

SMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized versionSMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized version

• SMART Mini-Idro is a tool for technical and economical evaluation of mini hydro power plants

• Evaluates the energy production, benefits and financial aspects

• Supports the pre-feasibility project analysis

• Used in the frame of the SHARE project

The following chart shows the composition and relationship of the SMART Mini-Idro modules

SMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized versionSMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized version

SMART Mini-Idro allows the input of the flow duration curve and considers the minimum environmental flow. Calculates the Power duration curve as function of the efficiencies and types of the selected turbine.

SMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized versionSMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized version

SMART Mini-Idro calculates the costs of the plant based on correlation curves, the income from the sale of energy produced and the financial parameters:

SMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized versionSMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized version