Objective Small hydropower with very low head or pressure differences below 2.5 m and hydraulic power ratings of 50 to 1000 kW is a significant renewable resource, with an estimated unused potential in rivers alone of e.g. 600 to 1000 MW in the UK and more than 500 MW in Germany. The economically and ecologically efficient utilisation of this hydropower bracket still constitutes an unsolved problem since conventional turbines (Kaplan or Cross flow) are not cost effective, and since they are considered to have a negative ecological impact. In order to open up this hydropower bracket for exploitation, an innovative solution - the hydrostatic pressure turbine - was developed. This novel hydraulic machine utilises differential hydrostatic pressures; with theory and initial model tests indicating high theoretical efficiencies for low head differences. It rotates at slow speeds and operates under atmospheric pressure with a continuous bed, thus minimising negative impact on fish and allowing for unhindered sediment and fish passage. Initial work indicated significant development potential, whilst the expected structural simplicity promises increased cost effectiveness. Three configurations will be investigated for different applications in rivers with a head difference, for free stream situations and for energy generation in water supply systems. The configurations will be optimised using a combination of small and large scale model tests, theoretical and numerical modelling. The ecological impact will be assessed at every step of development, and fed back into the R/D process to achieve an ecologically effective design. In the absence of appropriate testing facilities, large scale tests will be conducted in natural rivers scenarios, adding to the realism of environmental impact assessment. The project is expected to develop, and prove, novel economically and ecologically effective hydropower converters for applications with head differences below 2.5 m. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsfluid statics Keywords free stream run-of-river turbine very low head hydropower water distribution networks Programme(s) FP7-ENERGY - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Energy Topic(s) ENERGY-2007-2.7-01 - New or improved hydro components and concepts Call for proposal FP7-ENERGY-2007-1-RTD See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON EU contribution € 775 536,00 Address Highfield SO17 1BJ Southampton United Kingdom See on map Region South East (England) Hampshire and Isle of Wight Southampton Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Amanda Coe (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (10) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADT Germany EU contribution € 542 227,00 Address KAROLINENPLATZ 5 64289 Darmstadt See on map Region Hessen Darmstadt Darmstadt, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Cornelia Seeberg (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION -UNESCO France EU contribution € 318 377,00 Address PLACE DE FONTENOY 7 75352 PARIS See on map Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Jeltsje Kemerink (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TECNICO Portugal EU contribution € 338 356,00 Address AVENIDA ROVISCO PAIS 1 1049 001 Lisboa See on map Region Continente Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Teresa Malhoa (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ISTA ANDREEVA LTD Bulgaria EU contribution € 230 401,00 Address IVAN PEICHEV STREET 1 1700 SOFIA See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Svetlana Andreeva (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data HORST RUHNKE STAHLBAU Germany EU contribution € 82 131,00 Address Zum Pappelgrund 23966 KAROW See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Horst Ruhnke (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data SWIFT ENGINEERING GMBH Germany EU contribution € 115 510,00 Address Nebeniusstrasse 34 76137 KARLSRUHE See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Klemens Kauppert (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITET PO ARCHITEKTURA STROITELSTVO I GEODEZIJA Bulgaria EU contribution € 121 918,00 Address HRISTO SMIRNENSKI BLVD 1 1046 Sofia See on map Region Югозападна и Южна централна България Югозападен София (столица) Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Dimitar Kisliakov (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITAET ROSTOCK Germany EU contribution € 895 227,00 Address UNIVERSITATSPLATZ 1 18055 Rostock See on map Region Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Rostock, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Helga Röbke (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data HIDROPOWER LTD Portugal EU contribution € 88 470,00 Address Beloura Office Park 2710444 SINTRA See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Maria Mello (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET BRAUNSCHWEIG Germany EU contribution € 124 860,00 Address UNIVERSITAETSPLATZ 2 38106 Braunschweig See on map Region Niedersachsen Braunschweig Braunschweig, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Katinka Koll (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data