On the economics of ramping rate restrictions at hydro power plants: Balancing profitability and environmental costs

Niu, Shilei; Insley, Margaret

doi:10.1016/j.eneco.2013.04.002

Cited by 46 publications

(42 citation statements)

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“…Many hydropower dams have minimum flow requirements, but fewer have ramping rate restrictions. Suggestions of strict ramping rate restrictions for certain species can be assumed to impact hydropower production (Niu and Insley, ). For instance, Rood et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulsed Flow Wave Attenuation on a Regulated Montane River

Fong

Yarnell

Viers

2015

River Research & Apps

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This study investigated the effects of hydrograph shape on attenuation of regulated pulsed flow events below a hydropower dam by categorizing and modelling the downstream movement of representative pulses on the upper Tuolumne River in the Sierra Nevadas of California, USA. We extracted underlying hydrograph shape patterns using principal component analysis on individual pulsed flow events released from 1988 to 2012 (n = 4439). From principal component loadings, six shape categories were determined: rectangular, front‐step, back‐step, goalpost, centred tower, and other. Attenuation of representative pulses from each shape type was then modelled using a one‐dimensional hydraulic model of 42 river km. Model results demonstrated a durational threshold for representative pulses (~3–5 h) over which the degree of attenuation of ramping rates and peak discharge approached a limit. Simulations of front and back‐step representative pulses showed trade‐offs between attenuation of peak magnitudes and steepness of rising ramping rates. Reshaping pulses to reduce the adverse ecological effects of rapid changes in stage and velocity downstream was infeasible if the system was required to maintain current electricity production and recreational service levels. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulsed Flow Wave Attenuation on a Regulated Montane River

Fong

Yarnell

Viers

2015

River Research & Apps

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“…Other remarkable conclusion is that, in some cases, as the ramp rates become more restrictive the environmental benefit increase at a slightly higher rate than the restriction cost for the hydropower producer and is always higher than the latter. In [6], the decrease in hydropower revenue is calculated by means of a mixed integer linear programming model; the decrease in revenue due to the fulfilment of minimum environmental flows and ramp rates was of the same order of magnitude as that reported in [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The economic impact of some environmental constraints has been assessed in [3][4][5][6] by means of different approaches. In [3], the decrease in the economic value of hydropower is estimated by means of a peak-shaving algorithm with hourly varying market prices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In [4], the reduction in the annual benefit of the hydropower producer is calculated as the annual cost of the necessary replacement power supplied by thermal power plants; authors conclude that the air quality and recreational fishing benefits were more than twice as large as the economic impact on the hydropower operation. In [5], the decrease in the hydropower profits is calculated by means of an optimal scheduling model based on nonlinear programming. The decrease in hydropower profits due to the fulfilment of ramp rates ranged from less than 2 to by 8% in the cases analysed in that study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contribution of re-regulation reservoirs considering pumping capability to environmentally friendly hydropower operation

Pérez‐Díaz

Millán²,

García³

et al. 2012

Energy

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Keywords:Hydropower operation Environmental constraints Re-regulation reservoir Pumped storage Optimization Assessment methodology Environmental constraints imposed on hydropower operation are usually given in the form of minimum environmental flows and maximum and minimum rates of change of flows, or ramp rates. One solution proposed to mitigate the environmental impact caused by the flows discharged by a hydropower plant while reducing the economic impact of the above-mentioned constraints consists in building a reregulation reservoir, or afterbay, downstream of the power plant. Adding pumping capability between the re-regulation reservoir and the main one could contribute both to reducing the size of the reregulation reservoir, with the consequent environmental improvement, and to improving the economic feasibility of the project, always fulfilling the environmental constraints imposed to hydropower operation. The objective of this paper is studying the contribution of a re-regulation reservoir to fulfilling the environmental constraints while reducing the economic impact of said constraints. For that purpose, a revenue-driven optimization model based on mixed integer linear programming is used. Additionally, the advantages of adding pumping capability are analysed. In order to illustrate the applicability of the methodology, a case study based on a real hydropower plant is presented.

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“…It is widely believed that the run-of-river operation has to be mandatory to protect aqua biota. However, it reduces the production of electricity per flow unit and at the same decreases incomes [45]. Technical measures have been studied to reduce the effects of hydropeaking [14,37,[46][47][48].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow Regime Changes: From Impounding a Temperate Lowland River to Small Hydropower Operations

et al. 2015

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This article discusses the environmental issues facing small hydropower plants (SHPs) operating in temperate lowland rivers of Lithuania. The research subjects are two medium head reservoir type hydro schemes considered within a context of the global fleet of SHPs in the country. This research considers general abiotic indicators (flow, level, water retention time in the reservoirs) of the stream that may affect the aquatic systems. The main idea was to test whether the hydrologic regime has been altered by small hydropower dams. The analysis of changes in abiotic indicators is a complex process, including both pre-and post-reservoir construction and post commissioning of the SHPs under operation. Downstream hydrograph (flow and stage) ramping is also an issue for operating SHPs that can result in temporary rapid changes in flow and consequently negatively impact aquatic resources. This ramping has been quantitatively evaluated. To avoid the risk of excessive flow ramping, the types of turbines available were evaluated and the most suitable types for the natural river flow regime were identified. The results of this study are to allow for new hydro schemes or upgrades to use water resources in a more sustainable way.

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On the economics of ramping rate restrictions at hydro power plants: Balancing profitability and environmental costs

Abstract: I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners.I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public.

Cited by 46 publications

References 53 publications

Pulsed Flow Wave Attenuation on a Regulated Montane River

Pulsed Flow Wave Attenuation on a Regulated Montane River

Contribution of re-regulation reservoirs considering pumping capability to environmentally friendly hydropower operation

Flow Regime Changes: From Impounding a Temperate Lowland River to Small Hydropower Operations

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