Result description
The operation feasibility of small hydropower plants, with no dam or water storage, is subjected to the run-of-river flow which is also depending on a high variability in precipitation and snow cover. Besides the non constant production, the management of this kind of systems has to accomplish with some particular operation conditions of the plant (e.g. turbine minimum and maximum discharge) but also some environmental flow requirements. Some forecast models have been already proposed and applied in the energy field, but there is still an existing gap to link the results of the forecast with the decision support process. In the framework of the H2020 project CLARA we have developed a Small Hydropower and Management Assessment Tool (SHYMAT) climate service. SHYMAT is being tested over Sierra Nevada, in Southern Spain and it has been developed in a co-generation process, bridging the gap between climate data providers on one side, and managers and policy makers on the other side.
SHYMAT is a technological solution for the support of small hydropower plants which offer a web end user interface displaying historical, real time and seasonal forecast information of hydro-meteorological and energy production data.
Addressing target audiences and expressing needs
- To raise awareness and possibly influence policy
- Business partners – SMEs, Entrepreneurs, Large Corporations
One of our main goals is the University R&D transfer to “real word” prototypes. We are looking for collaboration with partners and effective methodologies and channels to reach relevant actors and stakeholders to make them understand the potential of the tool. SHYMAT is being tested in a Mediterranean high mountain area where the snow has a critical influence over the hydrology, so seasonal forecasts show a very limited skill and performance. We are also interested on the improvement of this skill and the implementation of other forecast data sources (e.g. short term forecast).
- Public or private funding institutions
- International Organisations (ex. OECD, FAO, UN, etc.)
- Other Actors who can help us fulfil our market potential
- Research and Technology Organisations
R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects
SHYMAT is a semi-operational tool. The service has been implemented being in touch with hydropower plants managers to learn about their needs and requirements and showing them that forecasting climate data can support the energy field. It has been designed as a cloud web application to be easily applied in other systems with very low cost, thanks to the scalable software architecture used.
Result submitted to Horizon Results Platform by SVERIGES METEOROLOGISKA OCH HYDROLOGISKA INSTITUT