Norwegian Research Centre for Renewal of Hydropower Technology


Project overview

Project:         Norwegian Research Centre for Renewal of Hydropower Technology
Project acronym: RenewHydro
Type:            FME
Call:            FME 2024
Finance:         Research Council of Norway
TRL:             1 - 8

Start:           01 January 2025
End:             31 December 2032
Project ID:      0123456789
Project cost:    30+ Million Euro
Coordinator:     Liv Randi Hultgreen, NTNU
Total partners:  50+
Work packages:   FP-5, RP-13
Website:         https://www.ntnu.no/renewhydro
Email:           liv.hultgreen@ntnu.no

 

This project is part of FME center, "FME RenewHydro - Norwegian Research Centre for Renewal of Hydropower Technology" financed by the Research Council of Norway for eight years. RenewHydro is led by Liv Randi Hultgreen in NTNU. The center is located in the Waterpower laboratory. RenewHydro aims to develop knowledge and solutions that enable flexible hydropower to support the realization of energy transition and achieve national energy, climate, and environmental goals. Within RenewHydro, researchers in technology, biology, and economics collaborate with experts from the hydropower industry and administration to address key challenges in the energy field. We strive to develop solutions for a low-emission society and enhance business innovation. The RenewHydro team combines cutting-edge science with deep insights provided by user partners, uniquely positioning us to drive innovation within the Norwegian hydropower industry and facilitate knowledge exchange with international partners. Here is the list of sub parts of the FME RenewHydro


view RenewHydro website

Framework Program (FP) | NHH  METTE BJØRNDAL

  • FP1 Enabling and competing technologies
  • FP2 Market design developments
  • FP3 Future power price dynamics
  • FP4 Societal and environmental frameworks
  • FP5 Trends in runoff under climate change and effects on hydropower production

Research Programs (RP)

RP1 Future Hydropower Plants | NTNU JONAS B.-PAULSEN

  • RP1.1 New hydro power plants - design and new construction
  • RP1.2 Design for intermittent operation and high ramping rates
  • RP1.3 Holistic monitoring and condition prediction of hydro power plants
  • RP1.4 Sediment handling

RP2 More power and energy | SINTEF Energy LINN-EMELIE SCHÄFFER

  • RP-2.1 Sustainable flexibility services from hydropower
  • RP-2.2 Sustainable upgrading and expansion of the hydropower system
  • RP-2.3 Provision of energy security and adequacy from hydropower
  • RP-2.4 Hydropower resource allocation and markets

RP3 Effect of climate change on hydropower | NINA LINE E. SUNDT-HANSEN

  • RP-3.1 Prediction of inflow under climate change
  • RP-3.2 The impacts of climate change on hydropower infrastructures
  • RP-3.3 Adaptation and opportunities for hydropower due to changed hydrological seasonality
  • RP-3.4 The role of hydropower in climate adaption
  • RP-3.5 Climate change and ecological flows

Research questions

  1. How can we increase the flexibility of hydropower technology?RP1.2RP2.2
  2. How can we maintain and extend the lifetime while increasing the flexibility of hydropower technology? RP1.2RP2.2
  3. How can digitalization increase the reliability and reduce the cost of maintenance of hydropower technology? 
  4. How can nature-based solutions contribute to the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem function in regulated watercourses?
  5. What is the land use and carbon budget of present and future hydropower developments, and how can restoration and compensation  contribute to nature-neutral or positive expansions?
  6. How can environmental effects of hydropeaking be mitigated by operational and physical measures, and can technological solutions be developed to minimize ecosystem changes for pump-storage between reservoirs by preventing the transfer of fish species? 
  7. How can nature-based solutions and environmental technology innovations provide new solutions to ensure two-way fish migration in regulated rivers?
  8. How can societal legitimacy of hydropower projects be obtained through a better balance of economic, environmental and social impacts?
  9. How will climate change affect hydropower infrastructures and production and how to develop the role of hydropower in climate adaptation (flood protection) and environmental mitigation? RP2.2
  10. How will electricity markets and regulations develop under different perspectives about the future?
  11. How should different market designs incentivize provision of flexibility and ancillary services from hydropower?
  12. How can hydropower contribute to security of supply under different market designs and regulatory regimes?
  13. What will characterize operational patterns and revenue streams for hydropower technology in the future power system?