OPTIMIZATION OF FISH PASSES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE LONGITUDINAL CONECTIVITY OF RIVERS FOR SMALL HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS

References: 17th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2017, www.sgem.org, SGEM2017 Conference Proceedings, ISBN 978-619-7408-07-2 / ISSN 1314-2704, 29 June - 5 July, 2017, Vol. 17, Issue 42, 459-466 pp, DOI: 10.5593/sgem2017/42/S17.058

ABSTRACT

Renewable energy is playing an important role in the development of any modern country. Numerous renewable energy sources are now harvested on a large scale with the main purpose to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and diminish the use of fossil fuels. European Union member states agreed to achieve important quotas of renewable energy in their consumption until 2020 in energy and in transportation. Romania has the legislation aligned with the EU directives, therefore the government has issued specific legislation to promote the use of renewable energy from the following sources: water, wind, photovoltaic, biomass and biogas. The most efficient renewable energy is considered to be the energy generated from small hydroelectric power plants (SHPP) (hydropower up to 10 MW) because it achieves the highest load factor and the energy can be predicted on daily basis with high precision and low variation during the day. Numerous small hydroelectric power plants were built and commissioned through the country especially in the mountain areas. Some of these areas were declared protected areas from the environmental point of view. This paper presents the results of researches done for the optimization of the fish pass of the water intakes of several SHPPs located on the upper sector of rivers, in order to assure the longitudinal connectivity of river and to improve fish migration and sediment transport. Water speed measurements were conducted upstream and downstream of the water intake section in order to determine the flow and to calibrate the model of the river. Simulations were computed to determine the water level through the fish pass structure, water intake and spillway. The results obtained were used to elaborate an operation program for water intake to grant efficient migration of fish and to assure longitudinal connectivity of river. Some fish friendly modifications are considered to the existing water intake.

Keywords: renewable energy, small hydroelectric power plant, ecological flows, fish pass