Course content

The course deals with hydropower as a system, with a focus on the physical make-up of a hydropower system with all its components, and the different factors that influence how a hydropower system is built and operated. These factors include environmental factors, societal factors, energy markets, and impacts from climate changes.

Learning outcome

The course will provide a deeper knowledge about what makes out a hydropower system, and the deciding factors that influence design and operation of such a system. It will provide the attendees with a deeper understanding of where their PhD subject fits into the system, and which challenges that need to be solved from a system perspective.

The hydropower system

The course will give an overview of function and design of a hydropower system. The candidates will learn the terminology for the most important elements in the system and how to calculate basic output and energy production from a hydropower plant. The focus will be on large hydro.The elements which will be dealt with are mainly:

• Dams and reservoirs, both economically and technically
• Intakes for hydropower, design and environmental issues
• Tunnel systems, headloss and alignment
• Secondary intakes, brook intakes and diversion tunnels
• Power house, design, principles
• Outlet for hydropower, technical and environmental issues (river, reservoir or sea)
• Pump storage projects, special issues regarding PSP

Environmental technology and environmental design

• Design criteria for a fish friendly turbine
• How to prevent fish from entering into the tunnel
• Total dissolved gas (supersaturation) downstream the hydro power plants

Societal legitimacy

Markets for electrical power

• The candidates should be able to explain the functioning and trade-offs involved in markets for physical power
• The candidates should be able to explain the essence of the reservoir management problem, where water can be used now or in the future, including be able to explain approaches to production planning at hydropower producers.

Climate change and impacts on hydropower

Climate and hydrological models: Input and output, how can models be used for hydropower production planning, which information can the models provide.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. Participation in the seminars is expected, which includes attendance at all lectures, as well as contributions to the discussions.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

This course is tailor-made for PhD candidates within hydropower related fields like design & operation of hydropower systems, electrical-mechanical engineering, hydrology and water resource allocation, environmental subjects, finance and economics.

Required previous knowledge

Admission to a PhD program within hydropower related subjects.

Course materials

Handouts and lectures.