Small-Scale Hydropower and Energy Recovery Interventions: Management, Optimization Processes and Hydraulic Machines Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The exploitation of renewable sources is fundamental for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to cut other harmful emissions for both the Earth environment and human beings. In recent decades, several “green” technologies have been deployed; thanks to this effort, more than 26% of the global electricity production comes from renewables. Among them, hydropower is one of the most known and established worldwide, but almost all of the large-scale reservoirs have been in use for decades. However, not all the countries present morphological conditions suitable for this kind of technology; moreover, there is significant room for development in the exploitation of residual flows and smaller sources. Therefore, several studies have been conducted in recent years on small-scale hydropower plants (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity), as well as on energy recovery applications in irrigation networks, water supply systems (WSSs), water distribution networks (WDNs) and industrial plants. In this regard, the present Special Issue has the aim to collect the most recent contributions and developments on the exploitation of water energy recovery potential in small-scale hydropower applications (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity), irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants. In particular, optimization analyses or the installation of hydraulic machines that act as pressure reducers, rather than as energy recovery systems, are the current key points for achieving environmental goals. The topics included in this Special Issue are the following:

• Current state-of-the art of small-scale hydraulic machines, with particular attention to small-scale hydropower plants (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity) and energy recovery in irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants;
• Future prospective of these research fields in upcoming years;
• Models and technologies that lead to an efficiency improvement of small-scale hydropower plants (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity), irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants (e.g. models for forecasting novel hydraulic machines performance, management and optimization processes of irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants where the installation of hydraulic machines is possible);
• Development of new methods for energy performance forecasting and enhancing small-scale hydropower plants (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity), irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants where hydraulic machines can be installed or they are already operating;
• Case studies where the energy recovery in irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants is applied by means of hydraulic machines.

The listed topics are indicative suggestions, but other emerging ones in these research fields are warmly welcomed.

In accordance with the above proposal, we would like to invite you to submit original research and/or review papers.

Dr. Mosè Rossi
Dr. Massimiliano Renzi
Dr. David Štefan
Dr. Sebastian Muntean
Guest Editors

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