Periodic Reporting for period 1 - D-HYDROFLEX (Digital solutions for improving the sustainability performance and FLEXibility potential of HYDROpower assets)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-09-01 bis 2025-02-28
The goal of D-HYDROFLEX is to increase the potential of the existing EU hydropower fleet in providing flexibility to the energy system, improve the overall annual efficiency of hydroelectric plants by optimizing their performance and ensure that their operation becomes more sustainable through the provision of a palette of innovative digital solutions integrated within the D-HYDROFLEX Hydropower 4.0 Toolkit. This toolkit consists of tools for predictive maintenance, forecasting, environmental monitoring and cyber shielding while integrates high-level workflows for processes such as digital twin creation, decision support analytics and AI-based intrusions detection. More specifically, D-HYDROFLEX develops a cloud-based monitoring and diagnostics centre that will provide plant operators with remote, real-time insights into overall plant operations, and functionalities such as alarms and notifications. The M&D will also support a wide range of monitoring and analysis features including energy production, H2 production, and flow forecasting.
D-HYDROFLEX strengthens hydropower’s role in the energy transition by digitising the EU hydropower fleet with user-friendly solutions that boost flexibility and efficiency. It advances scientific knowledge in digital twins, machine learning for predictive maintenance and forecasting, and explainable AI for optimising hydropower-hydrogen co-production. The project also contributes to cybersecurity through research in federated intrusion detection models (FIDMs), improving detection accuracy beyond current standards
From a business and technology innovation perspective, D-HYDROFLEX facilitates the digitalization of hydropower plants, reducing maintenance costs and increasing revenues through improved availability and operational efficiency. It enables system operators to fully leverage hydropower’s flexibility, while offering manufacturers and technology providers opportunities to deliver advanced IoT, edge, and cloud-based solutions
From an environmental perspective, the project aims to reduce the ecological footprint of hydropower plants by testing biodiversity monitoring methods and integrating image processing and novel sensors to study fish species and support environmentally compliant operations
From a social perspective, D-HYDROFLEX promotes awareness of hydropower as a clean energy source, addressing public concerns about its environmental impact and highlighting the benefits of modernised hydropower infrastructure
D-HYDROFLEX strengthens hydropower’s role in the energy transition by digitising the EU hydropower fleet with user-friendly solutions that boost flexibility and efficiency. It advances scientific knowledge in digital twins, machine learning for predictive maintenance and forecasting, and explainable AI for optimising hydropower-hydrogen co-production. The project also contributes to cybersecurity through research in federated intrusion detection models (FIDMs), improving detection accuracy beyond current standards
From a business and technology innovation perspective, D-HYDROFLEX facilitates the digitalization of hydropower plants, reducing maintenance costs and increasing revenues through improved availability and operational efficiency. It enables system operators to fully leverage hydropower’s flexibility, while offering manufacturers and technology providers opportunities to deliver advanced IoT, edge, and cloud-based solutions
From an environmental perspective, the project aims to reduce the ecological footprint of hydropower plants by testing biodiversity monitoring methods and integrating image processing and novel sensors to study fish species and support environmentally compliant operations
From a social perspective, D-HYDROFLEX promotes awareness of hydropower as a clean energy source, addressing public concerns about its environmental impact and highlighting the benefits of modernised hydropower infrastructure
During the 1RP, D-HYDROFLEX defined its core research pillars and established a research agenda to guide the development of the components and methodologies comprising the Hydropower 4.0 toolkit. The project’s main achievements to date are summarised below:
•Analysis of the key challenges and trends of hydropower digitalization and the barriers hindering the provision of flexibility by hydropower plants faced, mapping the role of hydropower in the EU energy landscape and identification of the key stakeholders (WP3)
•Formulation of D-HYDROFLEX toolkit requirements and design of the D-HYDROFLEX reference architecture (WP3)
•Definition of the use cases and description of reference scenarios linking them with specific KPIs that will guide the evaluation of the D-HYDROFLEX tools (WP3)
•Development of the first version of D-HYDROFLEX toolkit algorithms and modules including hydro system digital twin guidelines, techniques for automatic generation of geometric digital twin models for dam digitalization, decision support analytics for hybrid HPPs, a biodiversity index calculation model, AI-based intrusions detection and cyber-shielding techniques (WP4)
•Identification of the main drivers and boundaries within each demo (WP6)
•Description of the pilot sites main characteristics and definition of the demonstrators’ activities and timelines (WP6)
•Description of the main pillars of D-HYDROFLEX evaluation strategy (WP6)
•Analysis of the key challenges and trends of hydropower digitalization and the barriers hindering the provision of flexibility by hydropower plants faced, mapping the role of hydropower in the EU energy landscape and identification of the key stakeholders (WP3)
•Formulation of D-HYDROFLEX toolkit requirements and design of the D-HYDROFLEX reference architecture (WP3)
•Definition of the use cases and description of reference scenarios linking them with specific KPIs that will guide the evaluation of the D-HYDROFLEX tools (WP3)
•Development of the first version of D-HYDROFLEX toolkit algorithms and modules including hydro system digital twin guidelines, techniques for automatic generation of geometric digital twin models for dam digitalization, decision support analytics for hybrid HPPs, a biodiversity index calculation model, AI-based intrusions detection and cyber-shielding techniques (WP4)
•Identification of the main drivers and boundaries within each demo (WP6)
•Description of the pilot sites main characteristics and definition of the demonstrators’ activities and timelines (WP6)
•Description of the main pillars of D-HYDROFLEX evaluation strategy (WP6)
The contribution of the project towards the expected outcomes during the 1RP is analysed below:
EO1: Advance the European scientific basis, technology base, technology leadership in the area of hydropower in the context of digital transition and energy markets while creating evidence for policy making
We delivered prototypes for all tools in the Hydropower 4.0 toolkit and published detailed public deliverables on the underlying algorithms and models. Our participation in HYDRO 2024 included a paper on hydro-hydrogen hybridisation, and through the HS Booster consultancy we explored contributions to standardisation. To inform policy-making, we engaged with initiatives like ETIP-HYDROPOWER and conducted research in demo countries to identify policy gaps hindering hydropower plant modernisation
EO2: Increase the technology competitiveness of the existing hydropower fleet in changing European power markets by increasing hydropower flexibility and decision-making in modern power markets.
We developed clear use cases demonstrating how D-HYDROFLEX solutions improve plant performance and cost-effectiveness. A first set of key performance indicators—covering both technical and economic aspects—was defined to support a comprehensive impact assessment approach
EO3: Facilitate market penetration of renewables and getting closer to the European Green Deal and climate and energy targets for 2030 by increasing the flexibility, sustainability and predictability of existing hydropower.
We investigated the flexibility potential of each of the hydropower plants in the D-HYDROFLEX demonstrators and we worked towards identifying how the developed solutions can impact the the flexibility, sustainability and predictability of existing hydropower
EO4: Improve environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the existing hydropower fleet.
During the 1RP, we developed a computer vision algorithm to detect anguilliform fish, using morphological analysis and acoustic camera footage. This enables real-time turbine management adjustments, improving eel escapement rates during downstream migration. Additionally, we selected, procured, and installed sensor probes at Touro’s hydropower dam. Water quality analysis confirmed the need for pre-treatment of electrolysis water and showed that HPP operation does not affect the Ulla River's water quality
In terms of wider impacts, D-HYDROFLEX promotes the benefits of retrofitting existing hydropower plants and positions hydropower as a clean energy source, addressing public concerns about its environmental impact. During the 1st reporting period, the project participated in events such as ENLIT, engaging with stakeholders across sectors. It also produced accessible technical factsheets to help non-experts understand the value and impact of its solutions
EO1: Advance the European scientific basis, technology base, technology leadership in the area of hydropower in the context of digital transition and energy markets while creating evidence for policy making
We delivered prototypes for all tools in the Hydropower 4.0 toolkit and published detailed public deliverables on the underlying algorithms and models. Our participation in HYDRO 2024 included a paper on hydro-hydrogen hybridisation, and through the HS Booster consultancy we explored contributions to standardisation. To inform policy-making, we engaged with initiatives like ETIP-HYDROPOWER and conducted research in demo countries to identify policy gaps hindering hydropower plant modernisation
EO2: Increase the technology competitiveness of the existing hydropower fleet in changing European power markets by increasing hydropower flexibility and decision-making in modern power markets.
We developed clear use cases demonstrating how D-HYDROFLEX solutions improve plant performance and cost-effectiveness. A first set of key performance indicators—covering both technical and economic aspects—was defined to support a comprehensive impact assessment approach
EO3: Facilitate market penetration of renewables and getting closer to the European Green Deal and climate and energy targets for 2030 by increasing the flexibility, sustainability and predictability of existing hydropower.
We investigated the flexibility potential of each of the hydropower plants in the D-HYDROFLEX demonstrators and we worked towards identifying how the developed solutions can impact the the flexibility, sustainability and predictability of existing hydropower
EO4: Improve environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the existing hydropower fleet.
During the 1RP, we developed a computer vision algorithm to detect anguilliform fish, using morphological analysis and acoustic camera footage. This enables real-time turbine management adjustments, improving eel escapement rates during downstream migration. Additionally, we selected, procured, and installed sensor probes at Touro’s hydropower dam. Water quality analysis confirmed the need for pre-treatment of electrolysis water and showed that HPP operation does not affect the Ulla River's water quality
In terms of wider impacts, D-HYDROFLEX promotes the benefits of retrofitting existing hydropower plants and positions hydropower as a clean energy source, addressing public concerns about its environmental impact. During the 1st reporting period, the project participated in events such as ENLIT, engaging with stakeholders across sectors. It also produced accessible technical factsheets to help non-experts understand the value and impact of its solutions