1. VAPIDRO-ASTE and SMART Mini-Idro tools: hydropower potential assessment and scheme optimization
Project Final Meeting
Aosta, Italy
May 24th 2012
Julio Alterach, Milena Vergata, Alberto Elli (RSE – Italy)

2. Assessment of the remaining hydropower potential in watercourses
VAPIDRO-ASTE is a free GIS tool, developed by RSE (Italy) that calculates the remaining hydropower potential in a watercourse and the best locations of future plants, considering the Digital Elevation Model, the measured flows and the present withdrawals.

3. VAPIDRO – ASTE tool New project creation
In the frame of the SHARE project, a VAPIDRO-ASTE a customized version was produced. The version will be delivered including the Digital Elevation Model of the Alpine Space area:
When creating a new project, the whole map of the Apline Space is shown. The user is able to select and area where to work on.
Testing detailed area
Alpine Space Area

4. Automatic river generation
VAPIDRO – ASTE tool
Area selection, sub-basin computation
VAPIDRO-ASTE is able to create automatically the river network, departing from the Digital Elevation Model and the density factor
Automatic river generation

5. Watercourse selection
VAPIDRO – ASTE tool
Area selection, sub-basin computation
Selection of the upstream and downstream points of the study case river.
Watercourse selection

6. Installable power and energy
VAPIDRO – ASTE
Installable power and energy
Energy (kWh/year)
It is possible to view the discharge, energy and power tables an charts in reference to the selected river. The “x” axis is the progressive distance measured from the closure.
Structural lenght
Power (kW)

7. Automatic sub-basin calculation Withdrawals and restitutions
VAPIDRO – ASTE tool
Basins, Discharges, withdrawals and restitutions
The higher the number of sub-basins, the better the definition of watercourse results (discharge, energy, power).
Automatic sub-basin calculation
Withdrawals and restitutions
Discharges (Measured or natural)
Withdrawals
Restitutions

8. Installable Power (kW)
Installable power in a GIS map
VAPIDRO ASTE is able to visualize the results on GIS, as a map with a coloured scale (heads, energy and power, cost, benefits, financial parameters)
Installable Power (kW)

9. Benefit/Cost relationship in a GIS map

10. Hydropower Exploitation
VAPIDRO – ASTE tool
Hydropower Exploitation
Where to locate the best position of the intake powerhouse system to exploit the residual hydropower potential?

11. Hydropower Exploitation
VAPIDRO – ASTE tool
Hydropower Exploitation
VAPIDRO Hydropower Optimization Tool: tables and charts

12. Hydropower Exploitation
VAPIDRO – ASTE tool
Hydropower Exploitation
VAPIDRO Hydropower Optimization Tool: plants in the Map
Intake
Intake
Intake
Intake
Intake
Powerhouse
Powerhouse
Powerhouse
Powerhouse
Powerhouse

13. SMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized version
SMART Mini-Idro is a tool for technical and economical evaluation of mini hydro power plants
Evaluates the energy production, benefits and financial aspects
Supports the pre-feasibility project analysis
Used in the frame of the SHARE project

14. SMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized version
The following chart shows the composition and relationship of the SMART Mini-Idro modules

15. SMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized version
SMART Mini-Idro allows the input of the flow duration curve and considers the minimum environmental flow. Calculates the Power duration curve as function of the efficiencies and types of the selected turbine.

16. SMART Mini-Idro, SHARE customized version
SMART Mini-Idro calculates the costs of the plant based on correlation curves, the income from the sale of energy produced and the financial parameters: