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The feasibility of hydroelectric plants depends on a variety of factors: water resource regime, geographical, geological and environmental context, available technology, construction cost, and economic value of the energy produced. Choices for the building or renewal of hydroelectric plants should be based on a forecast of the future trend of these factors at least during the projected lifespan of the system. In focusing on the economic value of the energy produced, this paper examines its influence on the feasibility of hydroelectric plants. This analysis, referred to as the Italian case, is based on three different phases: (i) the economic sustainability of small-scale hydroelectric plants under a minimum price guaranteed to the hydroelectric operator; (ii) an estimate of the incentives for reaching the thresholds of “acceptability” and “bankability” of the investment; (iii) an analysis of the results obtained in the previous phases using a model of the evolution of the electricity price over the 2014–2100 period. With reference to the Italian case, the analysis suggests that, to maintain the attractiveness of the sector, it is necessary to safeguard the access to a minimum guaranteed price. With the current tariff plan, complete sustainability is only achieved for plants with p ≤ 100 kW. For the remaining sizes, investments under current conditions would not be profitable. The extension of minimum guaranteed prices could make new medium-large plants (500–1000 kW) more attractive. The current incentive policy is not effective for the development of plants larger than 250 kW, as systems with lower capital expenditures are preferred. Uncertainty about the evolution of the price of energy over time is a concern for the sector; the use of evolutionary models of technical economic analysis tried to reduce these criticalities, and it was shown that they can be transformed into opportunities. It was also found that profitability due to the growing trend expected for the price of energy cannot be highlighted by a traditional analysis.
Anita Raimondi; Filippo Bettoni; Alberto Bianchi; Gianfranco Becciu. Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Plants on a National Scale—The Italian Case Study. Water 2021, 13, 1170 .
AMA StyleAnita Raimondi, Filippo Bettoni, Alberto Bianchi, Gianfranco Becciu. Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Plants on a National Scale—The Italian Case Study. Water. 2021; 13 (9):1170.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnita Raimondi; Filippo Bettoni; Alberto Bianchi; Gianfranco Becciu. 2021. "Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Plants on a National Scale—The Italian Case Study." Water 13, no. 9: 1170.
The feasibility of hydroelectric plants depends on a variety of factors: water resource regime, geo-graphical, geological and environmental context, available technology, construction cost and eco-nomic value of produced energy. Choices about the building or renewal of hydroelectric plants should be based on the forecast of the future trend of these factors at least during the project life of the system. Focusing on the economic value of the produced energy this paper examines its influ-ence on the feasibility of hydroelectric plants. Analysis, referred to Italian case, were based on three different phases: i) the economic sustainability of small-scale hydroelectric plants under a minimum price guaranteed to the hydroelectric operator; ii) the estimate of the incentives to reach the thresholds of "acceptability" and "bankability" of the investment; iii) the analysis of results ob-tained in the previous phases using a model of the evolution of the electricity price in the period 2014-2100.
Anita Raimondi; Filippo Bettoni; Alberto Bianchi; Gianfranco Becciu. Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Plants on National Scale – The Italian Case Study. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleAnita Raimondi, Filippo Bettoni, Alberto Bianchi, Gianfranco Becciu. Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Plants on National Scale – The Italian Case Study. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnita Raimondi; Filippo Bettoni; Alberto Bianchi; Gianfranco Becciu. 2021. "Economic Sustainability of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Plants on National Scale – The Italian Case Study." , no. : 1.
Ethiopia is growing fast, and the country has a dire need of energy. To avoid environmental damages, however, Ethiopia is looking for green energy polices, including hydropower exploitation, with large water availability (i.e., the Blue Nile, the greatest tributary of Nile river). Besides other dams on the Omo river, the GIBE family, Ethiopia is now building the largest hydropower plant of Africa, the GERD (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam), on the Blue Nile river, leading to tensions between Ethiopia, and Egypt, due to potentially conflictive water management. In addition, present and prospective climate change may affect reservoirs’ operation, and this thereby is relevant for downstream water users, population, and environment. Here, we evaluated water management for the GERD, and GIBE III dams, under present, and future hydrological conditions until 2100. We used two models, namely, Poli-Hydro and Poli-Power, to describe (i) hydrological budget, and flow routing and (ii) optimal/maximum hydropower production from the two dams, under unconstrained (i.e., no release downstream besides MIF) and constrained (i.e., with fair release downstream) simulation. We then used climate change scenarios from the reports CMIP5/6 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) until 2100, to assess future hydropower production. Our results demonstrate that the filling phase of the GERD, particularly critical, have optimal filling time of 5 years or so. Stream flows at GERD could be greater than the present ones (control run CR) at half century (2050–2059), but there could be large decrease at the end of century (2090–2099). Energy production at half century may increase, and then decrease until the end of century. In GIBE III discharges would increase both at half century, and at the end of century, and so would energy production. Constrained, and unconstrained simulation provide in practice similar results, suggesting potential for shared water management in both plants.
Giovanni Bombelli; Stefano Tomiet; Alberto Bianchi; Daniele Bocchiola. Impact of Prospective Climate Change Scenarios upon Hydropower Potential of Ethiopia in GERD and GIBE Dams. Water 2021, 13, 716 .
AMA StyleGiovanni Bombelli, Stefano Tomiet, Alberto Bianchi, Daniele Bocchiola. Impact of Prospective Climate Change Scenarios upon Hydropower Potential of Ethiopia in GERD and GIBE Dams. Water. 2021; 13 (5):716.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Bombelli; Stefano Tomiet; Alberto Bianchi; Daniele Bocchiola. 2021. "Impact of Prospective Climate Change Scenarios upon Hydropower Potential of Ethiopia in GERD and GIBE Dams." Water 13, no. 5: 716.
The assessment of the effect of the electricity price on energy production is important when studying the profitability and benefits of energy systems. The demand and price of electricity depends upon societal and economic development, but it is subject to a seasonal, weather-dependent variability, and possibly to long-term variation under climate change. Here, we developed a methodology to model the energy demand and electricity price in response to gross domestic product (GDP), temperatures, and random factors, usable for the purpose of cost/benefit analysis of production systems. The method was applied to the case study of the Italian electricity market, showing acceptable capacity of modelling recently observed price fluctuations. Then, we gathered climate projections until 2100 from three global climate models of the IPCC AR5, under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5, and we produced future scenarios of price fluctuations for two reference decades, half-century 2040–2049, and end-of-century 2090–2099. Our scenarios displayed a potential for the reduction of energy demand in winter, and an increase in summer and spring, and for the similarly-changing electricity price throughout the 21st century. We discuss the application of our model with the specific aim of the projection of future hydropower production, as controlled by climate, hydrology, demand, and price constraints, with examples from recent studies. Our results provide a tool for modelling the behaviour of energy systems based upon knowledge of external factors, usable for further investigation of energy systems, such as hydropower, and others, taking into account the key variables affecting energy production and energy price.
Giovanni Martino Bombelli; Andrea Soncini; Alberto Bianchi; Daniele Bocchiola. Prospective Climate Change Impacts upon Energy Prices in the 21ST Century: A Case Study in Italy. Climate 2019, 7, 121 .
AMA StyleGiovanni Martino Bombelli, Andrea Soncini, Alberto Bianchi, Daniele Bocchiola. Prospective Climate Change Impacts upon Energy Prices in the 21ST Century: A Case Study in Italy. Climate. 2019; 7 (10):121.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Martino Bombelli; Andrea Soncini; Alberto Bianchi; Daniele Bocchiola. 2019. "Prospective Climate Change Impacts upon Energy Prices in the 21ST Century: A Case Study in Italy." Climate 7, no. 10: 121.
Greenhouse gas reduction policies will have to rely as much as possible upon renewable, clean energy sources. Hydropower is a very good candidate, since it is the only renewable energy source whose production can be adapted to demand, and still has a large exploitation margin, especially in developing countries. However, in Europe the contribution of hydropower from the cold water in the mountain areas is at stake under rapid cryospheric down wasting under global warming. Italian Alps are no exception, with a large share of hydropower depending upon cryospheric water. We study here climate change impact on the iconic Sabbione (Hosandorn) glacier, in the Piemonte region of Italy, and the homonymous reservoir, which collects water from ice melt. Sabbione storage plant has operated since 1953 and it was, until recently, the highest altitude dam of Europe at 2460 m asl, and the former second largest dam of the Alps with 44 Mm3. We use two models, namely Poly-Hydro and Poly-Power, to assess (i) present hydrological budget and components (i.e., ice/snow melt, rainfall), and (ii) hydropower production under optimal reservoirs’ management, respectively. We then project forward hydrological cycle including Sabbione glacier’s fate, under properly downscaled climate change scenarios (three General Circulation Models, three Representative Concentration Pathways, nine scenarios overall) from IPCC until 2100, and we assess future potential for hydropower production under the reservoir’s re-operation. Mean annual discharge during 2000–2017 is estimated at 0.90 m3 s−1, with ice melt contribution of ca. 11.5%, and ice cover as measured by remote sensing changing from 4.23 km2 in 2000 to 2.94 km2 in 2017 (−30%). Mean hydropower production during 2005–2017 is estimated as 46.6 GWh. At the end of the century ice covered area would be largely depleted (0–0.37 km2), and ice melt contribution would drop largely over the century (0%–10%, 5% on average at half century, and null in practice at the end of century). Therefore, decreased ice cover, and uncertain patterns of changing precipitation, would combine to modify the future stream fluxes (−22% to −3%, −10% on average at half century, and −28% to 1%, average −13%, at the end of century). Power production, driven by seasonal demand and water availability, would change (decrease) in the future (−27% to −8%, −15% on average at half century, and −32% to −5%, −16% at the end of century). Our results demonstrate potential for decrease of cold water in this area, paradigmatic of the present state of hydropower in the Alps, and subsequent considerable hydropower losses under climate change, and claim for adaptation measures therein.
Leonardo Stucchi; Giovanni Martino Bombelli; Alberto Bianchi; Daniele Bocchiola. Hydropower from the Alpine Cryosphere in the Era of Climate Change: The Case of the Sabbione Storage Plant in Italy. Water 2019, 11, 1599 .
AMA StyleLeonardo Stucchi, Giovanni Martino Bombelli, Alberto Bianchi, Daniele Bocchiola. Hydropower from the Alpine Cryosphere in the Era of Climate Change: The Case of the Sabbione Storage Plant in Italy. Water. 2019; 11 (8):1599.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeonardo Stucchi; Giovanni Martino Bombelli; Alberto Bianchi; Daniele Bocchiola. 2019. "Hydropower from the Alpine Cryosphere in the Era of Climate Change: The Case of the Sabbione Storage Plant in Italy." Water 11, no. 8: 1599.
Performing two independent surveys in 2016 and 2017 over a flat sample plot (6700 m 2 ), we compare snow-depth measurements from Unmanned-Aerial-System (UAS) photogrammetry and from a new high-resolution laser-scanning device (MultiStation) with manual probing, the standard technique used by operational services around the world. While previous comparisons already used laser scanners, we tested for the first time a MultiStation, which has a different measurement principle and is thus capable of millimetric accuracy. Both remote-sensing techniques measured point clouds with centimetric resolution, while we manually collected a relatively dense amount of manual data (135 pt in 2016 and 115 pt in 2017). UAS photogrammetry and the MultiStation showed repeatable, centimetric agreement in measuring the spatial distribution of seasonal, dense snowpack under optimal illumination and topographic conditions (maximum RMSE of 0.036 m between point clouds on snow). A large fraction of this difference could be due to simultaneous snowmelt, as the RMSE between UAS photogrammetry and the MultiStation on bare soil is equal to 0.02 m. The RMSE between UAS data and manual probing is in the order of 0.20–0.30 m, but decreases to 0.06–0.17 m when areas of potential outliers like vegetation or river beds are excluded. Compact and portable remote-sensing devices like UASs or a MultiStation can thus be successfully deployed during operational manual snow courses to capture spatial snapshots of snow-depth distribution with a repeatable, vertical centimetric accuracy.
Francesco Avanzi; Alberto Bianchi; Alberto Cina; Carlo De Michele; Paolo Maschio; Diana Pagliari; Daniele Passoni; Livio Pinto; Marco Piras; Lorenzo Rossi. Centimetric Accuracy in Snow Depth Using Unmanned Aerial System Photogrammetry and a MultiStation. Remote Sensing 2018, 10, 765 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Avanzi, Alberto Bianchi, Alberto Cina, Carlo De Michele, Paolo Maschio, Diana Pagliari, Daniele Passoni, Livio Pinto, Marco Piras, Lorenzo Rossi. Centimetric Accuracy in Snow Depth Using Unmanned Aerial System Photogrammetry and a MultiStation. Remote Sensing. 2018; 10 (5):765.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Avanzi; Alberto Bianchi; Alberto Cina; Carlo De Michele; Paolo Maschio; Diana Pagliari; Daniele Passoni; Livio Pinto; Marco Piras; Lorenzo Rossi. 2018. "Centimetric Accuracy in Snow Depth Using Unmanned Aerial System Photogrammetry and a MultiStation." Remote Sensing 10, no. 5: 765.
On the basis of theoretical considerations, the technical note presents two practical formulas for the dimensioning of air valves when filling a pipe with water. One is to be used for designing air valves on the basis of the maximum allowed water hammer overpressures; the other when the maximum in pipe water velocity is set. The reliability of these formulas was tested with a numerical model based on the same hypothesis, which was in turn verified with experimental tests.
Alberto Bianchi; Stefano Mambretti; Paola Pianta. Practical Formulas for the Dimensioning of Air Valves. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 2007, 133, 1177 -1180.
AMA StyleAlberto Bianchi, Stefano Mambretti, Paola Pianta. Practical Formulas for the Dimensioning of Air Valves. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering. 2007; 133 (10):1177-1180.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlberto Bianchi; Stefano Mambretti; Paola Pianta. 2007. "Practical Formulas for the Dimensioning of Air Valves." Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 133, no. 10: 1177-1180.