Small Hydropower Developments – From Planning to Design

The aim of the course on 'Small Hydropower Development - From planning to design' is to provide theoretical understanding and practical insights into the planning and designing of small hydropower plants. After a short introduction to renewable energy, energy needs, hydropower and small hydropower the planning of the plant with site selection and hydropower potential is performed. For the site selection, lectures and exercises on GIS methods and geology input together with energy demand and hydropower potential are given. All parts of civil structures (dams, weirs, intakes, power waterways, powerhouses), but also mechanical parts (turbine, hydraulic steel structures) and electrical components (generators, transformers, grid connection, smart grids) are part of the course. 

The course is finalized with the presentation of the developed and constructed case studies from different parts of the world. The case studies show different solutions and specific types of problems detected during the development of the small hydropower project. Illustration of the learned topics and also the practical application is shown during the half-day site visit to two hydropower plants in the Netherlands.