Controlling Temperature and Oxygen in rivers with diversion plants

Introduction

The aim is to actively control temperature and oxygen in rivers with diversion hydropower plants, to balance the demand for renewable energy from hydropower and the ecological functions as well as the ecosystems of the river.

Climate Change Impacts

The impacts of climate change on European rivers are broad:

1. Periods of low water occur more frequently with rising water temperatures.
2. Flooding events happen more often.
3. Declining groundwater levels, which are a consequence of dry periods, jeopardize alluvial forests with their sensitive habitats.

Hydropower providers therefore have to reduce or even stop energy production to provide the required residual amount of water in the natural river bed. This leads to a loss in energy generation and revenues.

Project Overview

With the project CONTEMPO, a dynamic management approach to balance power generation and environmental protection in the best way will be tested in a pilot project.

Challenges in Hydropower Operations

With regard to the required amount of residual water in the original river bed, discussions often arise between agents of hydroelectric power and environmental protection. The latter aims at avoiding damage to local endangered fauna and flora.

So far, the permissions for the operation of hydropower plants, with their static regulations, do not reflect the challenges of climate change.

Dynamic Management Approach

The CONTEMPO project will seek to develop an approach to react dynamically to local circumstances. The minimum residual flow of water will be regulated on the basis of real-time measurement data such as water temperatures, as well as an active control of oxygen levels and outflows in order to keep the river ecosystem within a non-critical range.