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A strategic assessment of micro-hydropower in the UK and Irish water industry: Identifying technical and economic constraints

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  • Gallagher, J.
  • Harris, I.M.
  • Packwood, A.J.
  • McNabola, A.
  • Williams, A.P.

Abstract

Energy recovery using micro-hydropower (MHP) technology can enhance the sustainability of the water industry. This paper presents a structured four-step methodology for assessing potential energy recovery sites in water and wastewater infrastructure in regions of the UK and Ireland; at service reservoirs (SRVs), pressure reducing valves (PRVs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Step 1 helped identify different all potential energy recovery sites in water and wastewater infrastructure. Step 2 shortlisted the most feasible sites for energy recovery, with the potential to generate an estimated 17.9 GWh per annum. Step 3 considered the technical and economic challenges relating to energy recovery and considered turbine selection, varying flow and site characteristics, feed-in tariffs (FITs) and overall project costs. Lastly, Step 4 provided evidence for the most feasible projects for Wales and Ireland based on capacity; larger than 3.6 or 18.2 kW at WWTP locations, 4.8 or 24.8 kW at PRVs and 12.8 or 22.2 kW at SRV sites, respectively. However, cheaper turbine technology and better financial incentives may improve the feasibility of smaller potential energy recovery sites. The results provide water companies with an estimated feasible capacity for potential energy recovery through MHP installations at different water and wastewater infrastructure sites.

Suggested Citation

  • Gallagher, J. & Harris, I.M. & Packwood, A.J. & McNabola, A. & Williams, A.P., 2015. "A strategic assessment of micro-hydropower in the UK and Irish water industry: Identifying technical and economic constraints," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 808-815.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:81:y:2015:i:c:p:808-815
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.03.078
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Crespo Chacón, Miguel & Rodríguez Díaz, Juan Antonio & García Morillo, Jorge & McNabola, Aonghus, 2020. "Estimating regional potential for micro-hydropower energy recovery in irrigation networks on a large geographical scale," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 396-406.
    3. Boroomandnia, Arezoo & Rismanchi, Behzad & Wu, Wenyan, 2022. "A review of micro hydro systems in urban areas: Opportunities and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    4. Delgado, J. & Ferreira, J.P. & Covas, D.I.C. & Avellan, F., 2019. "Variable speed operation of centrifugal pumps running as turbines. Experimental investigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 437-450.
    5. Bekker, A. & Van Dijk, M. & Niebuhr, C.M., 2022. "A review of low head hydropower at wastewater treatment works and development of an evaluation framework for South Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
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    7. Bousquet, Cécile & Samora, Irene & Manso, Pedro & Rossi, Luca & Heller, Philippe & Schleiss, Anton J., 2017. "Assessment of hydropower potential in wastewater systems and application to Switzerland," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 64-73.
    8. Strazzabosco, A. & Kenway, S.J. & Conrad, S.A. & Lant, P.A., 2021. "Renewable electricity generation in the Australian water industry: Lessons learned and challenges for the future," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    9. Ávila, Carlos Andrés Macías & Sánchez-Romero, Francisco-Javier & López-Jiménez, P. Amparo & Pérez-Sánchez, Modesto, 2021. "Optimization tool to improve the management of the leakages and recovered energy in irrigation water systems," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    10. Kougias, Ioannis & Aggidis, George & Avellan, François & Deniz, Sabri & Lundin, Urban & Moro, Alberto & Muntean, Sebastian & Novara, Daniele & Pérez-Díaz, Juan Ignacio & Quaranta, Emanuele & Schild, P, 2019. "Analysis of emerging technologies in the hydropower sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    11. Kemi Adeyeye & John Gallagher & Aonghus McNabola & Helena M. Ramos & Paul Coughlan, 2021. "Socio-Technical Viability Framework for Micro Hydropower in Group Water-Energy Schemes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-21, July.
    12. Rosa M. Llácer-Iglesias & P. Amparo López-Jiménez & Modesto Pérez-Sánchez, 2021. "Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, May.
    13. Kucukali, Serhat & Al Bayatı, Omar & Maraş, H. Hakan, 2021. "Finding the most suitable existing irrigation dams for small hydropower development in Turkey: A GIS-Fuzzy logic tool," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 633-650.
    14. Jiyun, Du & Zhicheng, Shen & Hongxing, Yang, 2018. "Numerical study on the impact of runner inlet arc angle on the performance of inline cross-flow turbine used in urban water mains," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 228-237.
    15. Vincenzo Sammartano & Lorena Liuzzo & Gabriele Freni, 2019. "Identification of Potential Locations for Run-of-River Hydropower Plants Using a GIS-Based Procedure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-20, September.
    16. Petras Punys & Linas Jurevičius, 2022. "Assessment of Hydropower Potential in Wastewater Systems and Application in a Lowland Country, Lithuania," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-23, July.
    17. Venturini, Mauro & Manservigi, Lucrezia & Alvisi, Stefano & Simani, Silvio, 2018. "Development of a physics-based model to predict the performance of pumps as turbines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 343-354.

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