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Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 August 2022) | Viewed by 18173

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Janusz Steller

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Guest Editor

Szewalski Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Fiszera 14, 80-231 Gdansk, Poland
Interests: hydropower and water management policy; hydraulic machinery design and opera-tion; performance and diagnostic test methodology; hydrodynamics; cavitation; cav-itation erosion

Prof. Petras Punys

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Guest Editor

Water Resources Engineering Institute, Vytautas Magnus University, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: small hydropower; historic water mills; hydropower resource assessment and mapping; unconventional hydropower; hidden hydropower; riverine hydrokinetic; renewables; water-energy nexus; hydropower impact assessment; stream hydrology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Even if confined to 10 states following from the UN geoscheme, the East European region represents 64% of European territory inhabited by 36% of the European population and providing 27% of European electricity generation. Adding the Baltic States, Western Balkans, and some of the countries located at Europe’s outskirts only increases these proportions. Despite high diversity in their natural conditions, cultural heritage, and political preferences, the countries within the region show much more in common than their geographical location as seen from the global perspective. However, their further sustainable development requires providing a firm and well-balanced response to the global challenge of climate change and the local challenges of increasing the water and energy supply safety—a particularly hot topic within the region today.

Hydropower shows all the virtues which must be considered a significant part of the necessary reaction even in countries with a relatively modest hydropower potential. As a part of water management and inland navigation schemes, and the ever more valued energy storage and grid regulation tool in the hands of national grid operators, the hydropower sector represents much more than just another source of emission-free “green” electricity.

As a guest-editor of this Special Issue of Energies, I strongly believe that the exchange of relevant scientific knowledge, experience, and opinions can only be beneficial in terms of reaching the sustainable development goals both in the regional and global perspective. The title of this Special Issue refers directly to an overview paper published in 2018 in the International Journal of Hydropower & Dams. This time, our intention is to look at the topic using a more detailed approach. In addition to the regional and national surveys of all aspects of the main topic, we also expect a presentation of major projects within the region, as well as case studies based on smaller ones. Papers on East European multipurpose and pumped-storage projects are especially welcome. Presenting solutions adopted to cope with encountered problems of technical, economic, environmental, and social nature, as well as related scientific analyses, can only enhance the publication value. The expected scope of the issue also includes experiences from the period of design, erection, commissioning, and operation of EE installation as well as reports on innovative techniques developed on this occasion.

All prospective authors willing to share their knowledge, experience, analytically based opinions, or just significant information on the topic are cordially invited to contribute to the issue. Let us make it a success!

Dr. Janusz Steller
Prof. Petras Punys
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Eastern Europe
Sustainable development
Climate change
Environmental impact
Power engineering
Renewable energy sources
Hydropower
Water management
Multipurpose project
Pumped storage

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surveying Dewatered Areas in the Fish Spawning Sites during Short-Term Drawdown Operations: Case Study of a Large Hydropower Plant Reservoir in the Lowland Area, Lithuania

by Linas Jurevičius, Petras Punys, Egidijus Kasiulis and Linas Šilinis

Energies 2022, 15(22), 8574; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15228574 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 969

Abstract

This paper presents research on the dewatering areas during drawdown operations in the Kaunas Hydropower Plant (HPP) reservoir situated in the lowland area of Lithuania. It is a multipurpose reservoir primarily used for power generation by two large hydropower plants. Because of the HPP peaking operation and the reservoir morphology—a shallow, gently sloping littoral zone—significant dewatered areas can occur (during drawdown operations). This is especially dangerous during the fish spawning period. Therefore, reservoir operation rules are in force that limit operation of the HPPs and secure other reservoir stakeholder needs. There is a lack of knowledge about the fish spawning locations, how they are changing, and what areas are dewatered at different stages of HPP operation. This knowledge is crucial for decision making and efficient water resources management in order to increase power generation and protect the environment at the same time. A detailed survey of an area containing several potential spawning grounds (about 5 ha) was conducted to track changes in the dewatering areas. The aim of the study is to investigate different surveying methods, gather knowledge about potential fish spawning sites, and investigate the dewatered areas that occur during water level (WL) fluctuations. The methodology and insights of this study can be used in similar lowland countries to assist in improving the usage of water resources while increasing power generation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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23 pages, 3190 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Assessment of Hydropower Potential in Wastewater Systems and Application in a Lowland Country, Lithuania

by Petras Punys and Linas Jurevičius

Energies 2022, 15(14), 5173; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15145173 - 17 Jul 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2309

Abstract

This paper focuses on possible power generation by micro-hydro turbines integrated into lowland wastewater systems, which convert the potential energy of effluents in pipes into electric power. While other European countries have widely invested in this technology, Lithuania and other Baltic countries are still behind with their potential development rate. A search for potential micro-hydro sites was carried out, and a methodology for assessing water resources for an ungauged wastewater network is proposed herein. Particularities of wastewater flow patterns are briefly reviewed, and turbine operational constraints are analyzed. The hydro turbines available on the market to be installed in wastewater systems that meet lowland conditions are discussed. Available tools on the hydropower market to conduct a preliminary assessment of potential sites for urban water networks are considered. Multicriteria analysis is performed to select optimal projects by assessing the relevant economic, technical, and environmental criteria in water networks. The outcomes of this study can be used for unlocking the hydropower potential of wastewater systems in low-lying areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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17 pages, 2641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sediment Transport Management Using the Planned Construction of the Lower Vistula Cascade as an Example

by Jarosław Biegowski, Małgorzata Robakiewicz, Krzysztof Woś and Krzysztof Wrzosek

Energies 2022, 15(5), 1689; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15051689 - 24 Feb 2022

Viewed by 1564

Abstract

Construction of the Włocławek Barrage on the Vistula River in 1970 became an important source of energy; however, it discontinued sediment transport in the Vistula River. This phenomenon resulted in accumulation before and erosion below the barrage; a similar problem can be expected due to the planned construction of the Lower Vistula Cascade. This study is dedicated to finding an effective and feasible solution to sediment transport management, acceptable to a wide group of users (e.g., navigation, energy producers, and ecologists). A numerical 1D model was applied to carry out analysis of hydrodynamics and sediment transport in the river section from Włocławek Barrage to the Vistula River mouth in the Baltic Sea. For calibration, historical data describing the accumulation and erosion created by the Włocławek Barrage were used. The proposed model allowed incorporation of new barrages chronologically, in accordance with the proposed time schedules. Analysis was carried out in a 50-year horizon, using a set of historical flow data. For sediment flushing, it was proposed to use natural flooding events exceeding Q_10% discharge and to control sediment management of the adjacent barrages. To use this method in practice requires verification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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17 pages, 4892 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Water Power Plants Possibilities in Powering Electric Cars—Case Study: Poland

by Katarzyna Kubiak-Wójcicka, Filip Polak and Leszek Szczęch

Energies 2022, 15(4), 1494; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15041494 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3131

Abstract

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular in Poland and around the world. More and more of them appear on the roads, especially in the centers of large cities. They are perceived and advertised as zero-emission cars, not polluting the environment. However, electric cars, such as cars with combustion engines, need to be “refueled”, so they are charged from the power grid. It is important to say that it depends on what the source of energy is. Unfortunately, in the case of Poland, most of the energy in this network (about 80%) comes from sources using fossil fuels (lignite, hard coal, and natural gas). These are not environmentally friendly energy sources. Despite the use of multi-stage exhaust gas cleaning, toxic compounds and carbon dioxide get into the atmosphere. The situation is stalemate because the more energy is needed to power industry, households and electric cars, the more carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere. This paper will demonstrate that the use of the term “green vehicle” in reference to electric automotive vehicles may be a misuse of the term, because if the local conditions of toxic emissions binding for vehicles with combustion engines had been taken into account during type-approval tests of such vehicles, electric vehicles would never have been put into service, not only in towns but everywhere else, too. Calculations show that carbon dioxide (201.2 g), nitrogen oxides (0.166 g), and particulate matters (0.0095 g) emitted by electropower plants are almost twice as large per 100 km than emitted by diesel engine. The solution to this situation is only an increased investment in the power industry based on renewable energy sources (RES). Currently, photovoltaic and wind power plants are experiencing rapid development in Poland, but they produce energy in an unpredictable way, and moreover, they need huge areas to build high-power installations. Much more stable sources of energy are hydroelectric power plants, which are in serious regression in Poland. Planned investments are constantly postponed. Yet, even in the lower Vistula cascade, already planned in the middle of the last century, there is a potential which, if used, would make it possible to ensure clean energy for powering electric vehicles for several dozen years to come. The authors wanted to pay attention to the need to introduce sustainable diversification of energy sources which, following the increase of investment in hydropower, would make it possible to plan the development of electromobility in Poland in a more secure way. The launch of the Lower Vistula cascade would eventually enable the zero-emission operation of approximately 1.5 million electric vehicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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20 pages, 5076 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Hydropower Potential Using Bayesian and Stochastic Approaches for Streamflow Simulation and Accounting for the Intermediate Storage Retention

by Katerina Spanoudaki, Panayiotis Dimitriadis, Emmanouil A. Varouchakis and Gerald A. Corzo Perez

Energies 2022, 15(4), 1413; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15041413 - 15 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1840

Abstract

Hydropower is the most widely used renewable power source worldwide. The current work presents a methodological tool to determine the hydropower potential of a reservoir based on available hydrological information. A Bayesian analysis of the river flow process and of the reservoir water volume is applied, and the estimated probability density function parameters are integrated for a stochastic analysis and long-term simulation of the river flow process, which is then used as input for the water balance in the reservoir, and thus, for the estimation of the hydropower energy potential. The stochastic approach is employed in terms of the Monte Carlo ensemble technique in order to additionally account for the effect of the intermediate storage retention due to the thresholds of the reservoir. A synthetic river flow timeseries is simulated by preserving the marginal probability distribution function properties of the observed timeseries and also by explicitly preserving the second-order dependence structure of the river flow in the scale domain. The synthetic ensemble is used for the simulation of the reservoir water balance, and the estimation of the hydropower potential is used for covering residential energy needs. For the second-order dependence structure of the river flow, the climacogram metric is used. The proposed methodology has been implemented to assess different reservoir volume scenarios offering the associated hydropower potential for a case study at the island of Crete in Greece. The tool also provides information on the probability of occurrence of the specific volumes based on available hydrological data. Therefore, it constitutes a useful and integrated framework for evaluating the hydropower potential of any given reservoir. The effects of the intermediate storage retention of the reservoir, the marginal and dependence structures of the parent distribution of inflow and the final energy output are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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30 pages, 11791 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Current Potential of Hydropower for Water Damming in Poland in the Context of Energy Transformation

by Bartłomiej Igliński, Krzysztof Krukowski, Jarosław Mioduszewski, Michał Bernard Pietrzak, Mateusz Skrzatek, Grzegorz Piechota and Sebastian Wilczewski

Energies 2022, 15(3), 922; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15030922 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2048

Abstract

The present paper indicates that hydropower, including small hydropower plants (SHPs), may play a very important role in Poland’s energy transformation in the near future. The development of SHPs may also increase water resources in the steppe Poland. Additionally, the aim of the present research is to conduct the PEST analysis of SHPs in Poland, taking into account the SHP potential. For the first time, maps showing the power and location of potential SHPs on the existing dams in Poland are presented. SHPs should be an important element of energy transition in Poland, especially on a local scale—it is stable energy production. Our analysis shows that there are 16,185 such dams in Poland, while the total capacity of potential hydropower plants in Poland would be 523.6 MW, and the total number of new jobs is estimated at 524. It was calculated that the annual avoided carbon dioxide emissions will amount to 4.4 million tons, which will reduce Poland’s emissions by 1.4%. The construction of SHPs can bring significant environmental and economic benefits. As far as the PEST analysis is concerned, the political environment of SHPs in Poland can be described as unfavorable (2.86 points). The economical nature of PEST analysis (3.86 points) should be considered as friendly for the development of SHPs. The social nature of PEST analysis can be considered as neutral (3.36 points). The technological nature of the PEST analysis can be considered as neutral (3.21 points). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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14 pages, 3175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Application of the Thermal Stabilization Prompted by the Ice Cover Expansion Considering the Energy Production Optimization in the Dam-Reservoir Coupled Systems on the Vistula River

by Tomasz Kolerski and Parisa Radan

Energies 2022, 15(3), 823; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15030823 - 24 Jan 2022

Viewed by 1715

Abstract

In this study, the thermal stabilization of a water resource together with an energy production optimization in the power plant of the dam–reservoir coupled system is conducted. This coupled dam system is designed to consist of a primary (Włocławek) and secondary (Siarzewo) dam due to the erosion control aspect. The other beneficial aspect of this coupled dam design is to have an additional power plant, with the aim of achieving more efficient renewable energy production. One of the factors to be included in the conditions influencing the energy production is the ice formation in the reservoir and tailwater due to the hydrodynamic and meteorological conditions of the site location. Frazil formation and jam may reduce the power plant efficiency. The concept of thermal stabilization, based on the previous studies, refers to providing the ice cover in the reservoir section of a dam to isolate the water from thermal condition. In this research, the ice cover expansion is triggered by the discharge reduction over a specific time and the entire study site. The optimized discharge for stimulating the ice cover through the night was found based on the results, leading to the desired thermal stabilization. This power loss emerged by reduced water withdrawal in the specific time during the day (nighttime), and will be remedied by the more suitable hydrodynamic condition over winter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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25 pages, 3321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inventory of Reservoirs of Key Significance for Water Management in Poland—Evaluation of Changes in Their Capacity

by Łukasz Pieron, Damian Absalon, Michał Habel and Magdalena Matysik

Energies 2021, 14(23), 7951; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14237951 - 28 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1497

Abstract

Dam reservoirs constitute an important element of protection against floods and hydrological droughts, and they ensure the possibility of producing electricity. Loss of reservoirs’ storage capacity has a significant impact on the management of their water resources, including flood protection and counteracting the effects of drought and the possibility of producing electricity. The paper presents changes in the capacity of 47 reservoirs in Poland that have the status of key objects of protection against floods and hydrological drought. Based on the collected, unpublished data, the changes in capacity from the beginning of the reservoirs’ existence to 31 March 2021 were calculated, which allowed us to determine the total amount of lost capacity and the pace of the processes taking place. From the beginning of operation (average operation time 48 years), the capacity has decreased by about 5%, which means that almost 200 million m³ less water is stored. Detailed analyses of the lost capacity also allowed for an illustrative presentation of forecasts for further changes in the short and long term. The results obtained represent a unique contribution to future national strategies for the management of sediment and reservoirs’ flood reserve and reduction of drought. The presentation of this problem seems to be important also in the context of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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Review

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14 pages, 2058 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Energy Potential of the Lower Vistula River in the Context of the Adaptation of Polish Inland Waterways to the Standards of Routes of International Importance

by Krzysztof Woś, Krzysztof Wrzosek and Tomasz Kolerski

Energies 2022, 15(5), 1711; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15051711 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1795

Abstract

Based on new policies of the European Union, green technologies are to be mostly considered for power generation. Hydropower generation is one of the essential elements of sustainable energy production. Therefore, specific attention, both economically and technically, needs to be given to this sector of energy production. The Vistula River in Poland is considered an international waterway. The power production potential of the river has been taken into account over the years. However, further configurations are needed to obtain a more in-depth ecological knowledge-base and economic plans, which are socially approved. In an attempt to make the project environmentally friendly, specific attention was put into sustainable transport. Different methods of transport were researched to find the most renewable transport combination, mainly based on waterways. Having performed a cost–benefit analysis related to the economic aspects of the project, it was found that such an investment is highly profitable (B/C = 2.81). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydropower in the East European Region: Challenges and Opportunities)

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