Solutions for flexible operation of storage hydropower plants in changing environment and market conditions
Description
The CTI (No. 17902.3 PFEN-IW-FLEXSTOR) research project FlexSTOR, standing for “Solutions for flexible operation of storage hydropower plants in changing environment and market conditions”, brought together the SCCER-SoE research partners and KWO to improve the climate and market resilience, as well as eco-compliance of Switzerland. New tools and methodologies were proposed for design and operation of flexible hydropower schemes and applied to KWO's power plants. To address this challenge, six main activities have been defined: WP1 - Hydropeaking mitigation WP2 - Impulse waves WP3 - Management of storage reservoirs in changing climate and market conditions WP4 - Sediment cascade flushing WP5 - Turbine abrasion WP6 - Unstable turbine behaviour at start/stop
Organisations
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - EPFL
- HES SO Valais
- ETH Zurich
Funding
- Private (industry – with partners)
- National funding
Specific Funding Sources:
CTI, SCCER-SoE
Level of Action:
National: SWITZERLAND
Applications
Keywords
Dams, Ecology, Flexibility, Hydraulics, Hydropeaking, Maintenance, Modeling / Simulation, Pumps, River management, Sediments, Sustainability, Turbines
Areas of Research
Research and Innovation Agenda
- Developing and optimising hydraulic design and control strategies for pump turbines and waterway system in existing PSH
- Overall assessment models of run-of-river, storage and pumped storage power plants regarding market and socio-economic issues
Strategic Industry Roadmap
Last Updated: 29/07/2026 14:24
