Steffi Dimke
University of Rostock, Coastal Engineering Group, Germany
Frank Weichbrodt
University of Rostock, Coastal Engineering Group, Germany
Peter Froehle
University of Rostock, Coastal Engineering Group, Germany
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110571416Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden
Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:6, p. 1416-1423
Published: 2011-11-03
ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3
ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)
Within the EC-funded research project HYLOW - Hydropower converters for very low head differences a floating energy converter - a so called Free Stream Energy Converter (FSEC) - for the energetic utilisation of currents with slow flow velocities (< 2.0 m/s) has been developed and will be optimized until 2012. In order to estimate the hydropower potential in case of deployment of the FSEC; a potential analysis exemplarily for the northern part of the river Ems; at the border between Netherlands and Germany; was performed. Here; the environmentally compatible hydropower potential has a special importance. As expected; this potential is much lower than the theoretical hydropower potential. In addition to the efficiency of the energy converter; also the required water depth; existing protection areas and other uses are the main reason for the difference between the mentioned potentials in this investigation area.
Estuary River Ems; Environmentally compatible hydropower potential; Flow velocity
