SHERPA, New Horizon Europe - Funded Project Kicks Off In Brussels

Brussels, September 2024 - The SHERPA project (Solutions for Hydropower plants to Enhance operational Range, Performance, and improve environmental impAct), funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Program, officially kicked off this month. The project, which will run for 42 months, brings together a consortium of seven key partners across Europe to develop innovative solutions that will significantly improve the performance and sustainability of hydropower plants (HPPs).

The project's launch took place at a kick-off meeting held at the Basque Delegation in Brussels. The event was opened by Marta Marin, Basque Delegate to the European Union, followed by a project overview presented by the coordinator from Iberdrola. Each partner organization had the opportunity to outline their respective work packages, and Clara Astudillo, the European Commission's Project Officer, provided guidance on compliance and reporting requirements.

The SHERPA consortium includes partners from four EU countries: Iberdrola Generación S.A. (project coordinator), Asociación de Investigación Metalúrgica del Noroeste, Voith Hydro Holding GmbH & Co. KG, EPRI Europe DAC, Innomerics SL., AECOM Spain, DCS, S.L., and Zabala Innovation.

The hydropower sector, SHERPA project and its objectives Hydropower is a crucial renewable energy source, recognized for its environmental benefits and substantial contribution to global energy demands. However, hydraulic turbines face operational challenges due to fluctuating energy market demands and the increasing need for operational flexibility. Turbines often operate outside their optimal flow range, leading to inefficiencies, instability, and increased wear on components.

A key issue is the environmental flow (E-flows) regulations imposed on many HPPs, which often force turbines to operate under off-design conditions. This can lead to significant damage to critical components, higher maintenance costs, and reduced operational lifespan. SHERPA aims to address these challenges by developing and validating a range of innovative technologies designed to refurbish existing hydropower plants and improve their efficiency and environmental performance.

The key objectives and technological innovations of the project are the following:

• Advanced Materials and Coatings: Application of additive manufacturing (AM) metallic patches and coatings to minimize damage and enhance resistance to cavitation.
• Adaptive Rotational Speed: New strategies to adjust turbine speed based on varying water flow rates.
• Air Injection Systems: Development of systems to improve water quality and operational efficiency.
• New Runner Designs: Design of new turbine runners tailored to perform better under E-flow conditions.

The project will also leverage advanced modelling, simulation, and monitoring tools to assess the impact of these solutions on energy output, cost effectiveness, flexible operation, and biodiversity. SHERPA's goal is to extend the operational range of hydropower plants to lower flows without compromising their economic viability, longevity, or environmental and social impact.

SHERPA will tackle 10 key technological challenges across four main areas:
1. Mechanical solutions to improve performance and reduce damage at low water flows.
2. Electrical solutions for optimizing performance and reducing damage under fluctuating conditions.
3. Measures to enhance water quality and protect biodiversity.
4. Advanced tools for modelling, performance monitoring, and predicting the remaining useful life of turbine components.

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The SHERPA consortium is composed of a multidisciplinary consortium of 7 entities from 4 different EU countries (Spain, Germany, Ireland and Belgium).

Iberdrola Generación S.A. has a long history and experience of over 100 years, and it currently accounts for 174 HPPs in operation in the world, with an installed power of 13.9 GW. The company participates in all the stages during the lifetime of hydropower facilities, including design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the plants.

Asociación de Investigación Metalúrgica del Noroeste is an Innovation and Technology centre highly specialized in materials and in advanced manufacturing technologies, especially joining technologies and laser-based technologies applied to materials processing, robotics, and automation.

Voith Hydro Holding GmbH & Co. KG is a global technology company. A quarter of the energy generated worldwide from hydropower is produced with turbines and generators from Voith Hydro. As a supplier of technologies and services for converting primary energy carriers into electricity, Voith plays a leading role in the energy market.

EPRI Europe DAC is an independent energy and environmental research, development, and demonstration projects for the benefit of the public. It aims to enhance the quality of life by making energy safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable.

Innomerics SL. is a Spanish SME that specializes on applying leading edge
research for developing instrumentation and computational models that can predict complex structural, thermomechanical and fluid mechanics phenomena that occur in critical systems and components of power plants.

AECOM Spain is an infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle on projects spanning water, new energy, environment, transport, and buildings.

Zabala Innovation is a Spanish consulting company with international offices in France, Belgium and Portugal, and the Brussel's branch will be the partner in SHERPA. It has large experience in social innovation, social awareness, and management of RTD innovation activities that will maximize the impact of the results and successfully deliver the activities of communication and dissemination tasks within the project.

This release was published on openPR.