Project description
Hydropower plant harnesses the flow of rivers and open channels
Small hydro refers to the development of hydroelectric power on a scale suitable for local communities and industries. Small hydro projects less than 10 MW are key to increasing the share of hydropower into the broader energy mix. However, their market penetration is impeded by both very high cost-to-generation ratios compared to large hydropower plants and low energy conversion efficiency in small waterfalls. The EU-funded HyKinetics project plans to develop an innovative micro hydropower plant that eliminates the need of fall or dam for power production. The turbine is specifically designed for applications in rivers and open-channel flows. It will also be customisable to the demands of the installation site.
Objective
"HyKinetics project deals with the optimization, ""on-field"" testing and commercialization of an innovative 3-blades axial hydropower turbine, specifically designed for application on rivers and able to competitively exploit the hydro-kinetics energy of the water flows without the need of upside barriers. This means that, differently to existing solutions, HyKinetics is applied for zero-head installations, i.e. without any fall or dam required, and it is characterized by a very low impact thanks to:
-) the slow rotation of blades (no impact on the fluvial fauna). The small dimension of the blades in respect to the rotational radius avoids abnormal waves and undercurrents.
-) the turbine is not fixed to the river bed but anchored on the river bank (no drilling needed but floating barge easily removable, no impact on the river bed);
-) Energy supply and distribution systems are fully immersed, while on the surface there are only the parts needed for maintenance (no visual impact).
The innovative blades shape allows:
-) a very low water cut-in speed (1 m/s), leading to an increase of the turbine yearly productivity (up to 4,000 kWh/kW);
-) an unparalleled conversion efficiency, with a power coefficient Cp up to 40%.
The solution has been validated thanks to the testing of a first 20 kW prototype, installed on the Po river (the longest river in Italy) and tested for 1 year. Authorization procedure for the installation was simple thanks to the low environmental and visual impact of the solution, making easier the solution replicability.
The Feasibility Study is conceived to achieve the following outcomes:
• Validate the technical feasibility of HyKinetics technology, by selecting the MVP power and optimizing the supply chain.
• Validate the business opportunity, with the involvement of the key players of the value chain, developing a customer validation for fixing the market price and quantifying the market share, selecting the best Business Model for market uptake."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
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H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
20122 Milano
Italy
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.