Renewable Energy and Hydroelectric Projects

Prerequisite Knowledge

Fluid Mechanics, Engineering Hydrology, Hydraulics, Hydraulic Works, Energy Technology

Course Units

#	Title	Description	Hours
1	Energy, electric energy and renewable energy	Historical background. Basic concepts of energy technology. Forms of energy. Electric energy. Energy mix. Electrical systems. Renewable energy sources. Hydroelectric energy.	3
2	Energy supply and demand	Electric energy balance. Energy demand and its components (domestic, industrial, municipal, agricultural). Temporal distribution of energy consumption. Forms of energy production (base energy, peak energy, secondary energy).	3
3	Principles of hydropower technology	Fundamental quantities (energy, power, hydraulic head, efficiency). Estimation of hydraulic losses. Turbine types. Characteristic turbine curves. Preliminary design of hydropower systems.	3
4	General layout of hydroelectric works	Dams and associated works (intakes, penstocks, power stations, draft tubes, spillways, gates). Environmental impacts. Examples.	3
5	Hydroelectric reservoirs	Characteristic properties. Water balance. Multi-reservoir systems. Multi-purpose reservoirs. Operation rules. Environmental constraints. Flood control.	3
6	Simulation and optimization of hydroelectric reservoirs	Hydrological uncertainty and its impacts to hydropower design. Hydrological design of reservoirs. Simulation and optimization techniques for hydroelectric reservoirs. Estimation of firm and secondary energy.	3
7	Technology of small hydropower works	General layout of small hydropower plans. Main components (intake weirs, transfer channels, forebay tanks, penstocks). Specific environmental utilities (sediment stops, fish passages). Examples.	3
8	Design of small hydropower works	Hydrological design. Flow duration curves. Ecological flows. Simulation of small hydropower plan operation. Turbine selection. Optimization of energy production through combined turbines.	3
9	Solar energy	Solar radiation (direct, diffuse). Measurement of solar radiation. Estimation of solar energy potential. Estimation through indirect data (daylight hours, cloud data). Impact of topography. Allocation of solar panels. Legislation.	3
10	Wind energy	Theoretical and technically efficient wind potential. Wind power curves. Allocation of wind plant systems. Legislation. Environmental impacts and associated constraints.	3
11	Hybrid systems	The concept of pumped storage. Reversible turbines. Simulation of hybrid system operation.	3
12	Energy economics	Energy and hydroelectric energy management. Technical and economic quantities. Energy market.	3
13	Combined management of water and renewable energy	Conjunctive management of water and renewable energy Water as a means for energy production, consumption and storage. Conjunctive management of hydroelectric, wind and solar energy at large scale.	3

Learning Objectives

By the completion of the course, the students will be able to:

• Estimate hydropower potential
• Perform hydrological design and management of small and large hydropower projects
• Estimate solar and wind potential
• Estimate energy production through renewable sources
• Address institutional and environmental issues (environmental impacts, constraints, allocation, legislation)
• Evaluate feasibility and effectiveness of energy projects
• Recognize the concept of combined management of water and energy resources

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods	Continuous flow of theoretical concepts and applications
Teaching media	Blackboard use and Powerpoint presentations
Computer and software use	Formulation and solution of advanced simulation and optimization problems in spreadsheets
Assignments (projects, reports)	Technical studies for four types of design problems, in groups of two or three students (optional assignments covering the respective subjects of the course): 1. Estimation of design characteristics of a hydropower plan 2. Simulation and optimization of hydropower operation 3. Hydrological and energy planning of a small hydropower plan 4. Simulation of operation of a hybrid energy system (solar, wind and hydroelectric)
Other	Visit at the Laboratory of Turbines of the School of Mechanical Engineering

Student Assessment

• Final written exam: 50%
• Assignments (projects, reports): 50%

Textbooks - Bibliography

Full educational material, comprising lecture notes, problem solutions of previous exams (since 2015), as well as links to research publications and associated web sites, are available at the web site of the cource.

Additional textbook:

Papantonis, D. E., Small Hydroelectric Works, 456 p., Symeon Pubs., Athens, 2008 (in Greek).

Lecture Time - Place:

• Monday, 09:45 – 12:30,
  Rooms:
  • PC Lab Μεταφορών