A5089509391- Cavitation Phenomena in Pumps
- Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies
- Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems
- Water Systems and Optimization
- Hydraulic flow and structures
- Oil and Gas Production Techniques
- Water resources management and optimization
- Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Fluid dynamics and aerodynamics studies
- Vibration and Dynamic Analysis
- Libraries, Manuscripts, and Books
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Microgrid Control and Optimization
- Wind Energy Research and Development
- Global Energy Security and Policy
- Electric Power System Optimization
- Tribology and Lubrication Engineering
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Historical Influence and Diplomacy
- Energy and Environment Impacts
- Integrated Energy Systems Optimization
Joint Research Centre
2020-2024
European Commission
2024
Polytechnic University of Turin
2015-2020
ORCID
2019-2020
University of Technology Sydney
2019
The paper reviews recent research and development activities in the field of hydropower technology. It covers emerging advanced technologies to mitigate flow instabilities (active passive approach) as well magneto-rheological control techniques. Recent findings on are also presented, especially concerning fluid-structure interaction transient operating conditions. As a great number existing large-scale hydroelectric facilities were constructed decades ago using that now considered obsolete,...
The hydropower sector is currently experiencing several technological developments. New technologies and practices are emerging to make more flexible sustainable. Novel materials have also been recently developed increase performance, durability, reliability; however, no systematic discussions can be found in the literature. Therefore, this paper, novel for applications presented, their advantages, limitations discussed. For example, composites reduce weight of steel equipment by 50% 80%,...
About 50% of all hydropower plants (HPPs) worldwide were originally commissioned more than 40 years ago, so that the advanced age fleet is a major concern across continents, and especially in Europe. The modernization HPPs can generate several benefits terms generation, flexibility, safety, operation, may have neutral or even positive implications for environment. In this work, we appraise options existing plants, with exclusion measures expected to increase hydro-morphological pressure on...
Abstract Urban greening is an effective mitigation option for climate change in urban areas. In this contribution, a European Union (EU)-wide assessment presented to quantify the benefits of terms availability green water, reduction cooling costs and CO 2 sequestration from atmosphere, different climatic scenarios. Results show that 35% EU’s surface (i.e. more than 26,000 km ) would avoid up 55.8 Mtons year −1 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, reducing energy demand buildings summer by 92...
The Very Low Head turbine (VLHT) is an axial flow developed for heads below 4.5 m and rates up to 30 m3/s. In this work, the state of art, technological advancements scientific gaps were discussed generalized, with a special focus on design, ecological behavior, costs, performance at different flows, rotational speeds. field hydraulic behavior under configurations (e.g. in presence cavitation upstream obstacle) described, aim deriving engineering suggestions. Results tests generalized (fish...
Soil erosion is both a major driver and consequence of land degradation with significant on-site off-site costs which are critical to understand quantify. One cost soil originates from the sediments delivered aquatic systems (e.g., rivers, lakes, seas), may generate broad array environmental economic impacts. As part EU Observatory (EUSO) working group on erosion, we provide comprehensive assessment existing sediment removal European Union (EU) catchments due water erosion. These...
Hydropower remains a key renewable energy source in the pursuit of decarbonization economy, although relatively high potential impact hydro-morphological alterations it may cause poses significant concerns for aquatic ecosystems. In last years, new technologies and practices have been increasingly adopted to minimize impacts hydropower plants, while improving efficiency flexibility generation. The overall effect these innovations be more sustainable design operation hydropower, striking...
Abstract Fishways are hydraulic structures that allow passage of fish across obstructions in rivers. Vertical slot fishways—VSFs—are considered the most efficient and least selective type technical fishway solutions, especially due to their ability remain effective even when significant upstream and/or downstream water level fluctuations occur. The scope present study is perform numerical simulations order investigate compare turbulent flow field a standard simplified version common VSF...
The Indus basin has a large hydropower untapped potential for electricity generation and to regulate the river flow, which could reduce flooding events provide water supply during drought periods. In this paper, computational module is developed localize sites seasonal pumped storage (SPHS). levelized costs in with conventional dams are as low 12 USD/MWh, cost of energy 1 USD/MWh. case SPHS plants, 2 It can be concluded that is, moment, less expensive than SPHS, but its limited 26 GW below...
Abstract Small hydropower plants (installed power below 10 MW) are generally considered less impacting than larger plants, and this has stimulated their rapid spread, with a developing potential that is not exhausted yet. However, since they can cause environmental impacts, especially in case of cascade installations, there the need to operate them more sustainable way, e.g. considering ecosystem needs by low-impacting technologies. In paper, an assessment was conducted estimate how flow...
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) of 671 Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) throughout the European Union + UK (EU28), representing almost half EU28 population. CSO loads can be quantified at local scale through measurements, or with calibrated hydrological models. However, they are difficult to quantify a large (e.g. regional national), due lack data, and models used cannot applied in absence knowledge combined sewer (CS) network. This paper presents 6-parameter lumped model simulate CS network its...
Abstract The six Western Balkan countries (WB6), which include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, are in a critical phase of their development face various economic, political environmental challenges. Political uncertainties, economic imbalances, institutional weaknesses have hindered progress achieving sustainable goals. Among these challenges, the energy sector stands out as priority due to its significant impact on growth, climate change,...
Abstract This study examines recent energy transition policies and the conceptual framework of justice, emphasizing role hydropower, in ensuring equitable distribution services burdens. The analysis focuses on EU’s mix, highlighting capacity hydropower its impact relationship between migration poverty countries such as Poland, Czech Republic Turkey. In addition to their a source renewable energy, offer range other benefits, including irrigation, flood control, water supply fisheries. Despite...
Water appropriation for human use can have significant impacts on the functioning of freshwater ecosystems. Reducing water be a first step towards increasing resilience and adapting to climate change, it is therefore important understand its spatial sectorial distribution. In this contribution, we analyze level in European watersheds, using available estimates demand availability.We map an indicator blue river basins by broad water-using sectors, namely irrigation, livestock breeding, public...
Thanks to their efficiency and simplicity of contruction, breastshot water wheels represent an attractive low head hydropower converter. In this work, a wheel is investigated by numerical simulations, the results are validated with experimental tests. The average discrepancy between shaft torque lower than 5%. model then used investigate performance hydraulic behavior for different numbers blades (16, 32, 48, 64 blades) at conditions. increase in from 16 optimal number ranges 12 16% function...
In rivers and at old mill sites there is a substantial amount of very low-head hydropower with head differences from 0.3 to 1.5 m. Much this potential unused since in these conditions modern technology not cost effective. the mid-nineteenth century, Sagebien Zuppinger wheels were developed for such situations. Recent model tests showed wheel has maximum efficiency 85%. No data are however available wheel. At Southampton University, 1:10 scale conducted. Both had 84%. The wheel's performance...