Extracting energy from rivers and lakes in a sustainable way
The potential of hydropower and aquathermal technologies
As oil and gas resources dwindle and the urgency to reduce CO2 emissions increases, hydropower and aquathermal systems offer sustainable alternatives for producing electricity and for cooling and heating buildings. Yet the potential for utilising these systems in many developing countries has not been properly explored and they are not considered to be economically feasible.
As a result, the potential of these sustainable energy systems often remains underutilized. Possible applications include irrigation, (waste) water purification, agricultural services and food processing, electric mobility, telecommunications, and even healthcare and education.
Mapping the energy potential of rivers
The renewable energy mix is often restricted to solar panels and wind power. Micro-hydropower and aquathermal heating and cooling are often overlooked, even when there are rivers and lakes close to communities and industrial sites. Different rivers and lakes offer different opportunities.
Some are only suitable for micro-hydropower or aquathermal heating and cooling, some can have a combined use, while others are not suitable for either. A good understanding of the criteria is important for identifying the potential of the different areas.
The project consisted of two important missions to Colombia. The first mission focused on initiating discussions with various stakeholders and mapping their interrelationships. In Colombia, there is a clear top-down approach in the realization of large infrastructure projects, with local partners being responsible for effective execution. This mission also facilitated the selection of pilot locations for feasibility studies. Three feasibility studies were conducted. In Montería, only aquathermy was investigated.
Micro-hydropower was studied in the Cauca region. In El Retorno, the combination of aquathermy and micro-hydropower was investigated.
In preparation for the second mission to Colombia, an interactive online tool was developed. This tool allows users to easily assess the potential of micro-hydropower and aquathermy at a specific location. Additionally, users can use this tool to identify the most interesting locations for micro-hydropower and/or aquathermy. Check the tool >
The results of the feasibility studies and the online tool were presented to the involved stakeholders and university partners at two locations in Colombia during the second mission. Additionally, a workshop on micro-hydropower and aquathermy was organized for the university students. These workshops were supported with audiovisual teaching materials that can also be used in the future.
