Project description DEENESFRITPL 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. Show the project objective Hide the project objective 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 social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness modelsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydroelectricity Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy Main Programme H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument Topic(s) SMEInst-09-2016-2017 - Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon and efficient energy system Call for proposal H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017 Funding Scheme SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1 Coordinator COS.B.I. COSTRUZIONE BOBINE ITALIA S.R.L. Net EU contribution € 50 000,00 Address Via orti 1 20122 Milano Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 21 429,00
