Project Colombia
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The potential for utilising micro-hydropower and aquathermal technologies was assessed in the context of Columbia. This includes an overview of the applicable local/regional legislation, a high-level map of river energy potential and a feasibility study for two detailed cases. This knowledge was spread among local engineers, environmental organisations, governments and students via lectures, training sessions and workshops.
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The potential for utilising micro-hydropower and aquathermal technologies was assessed in the context of Columbia. This includes an overview of the applicable local/regional legislation, a high-level map of river energy potential and a feasibility study for two detailed cases. This knowledge was spread among local engineers, environmental organisations, governments and students via lectures, training sessions and workshops.
km rivers
398
Avg. aquathermal potential per city
196 MW
Avg. micro-hydrpower potential per city
98 MW
As oil and gas resources dwindle and the need to reduce CO2 emissions increases, hydropower and aquathermal energy offer sustainable alternatives for generating electricity and for cooling and heating buildings. Yet the potential for using these systems in many developing countries has not yet been well explored and they are not currently considered economically viable. This means that the opportunity to serve a wide range of activities, such as irrigation, (waste) water treatment, food processing, electric mobility, telecommunications, and even health care and education, through these renewable systems is being missed.
Moreover, the mix of renewable energy in this context is also often limited to solar panels and wind power. Micro hydropower and aquathermal heating & cooling are often overlooked, even when there are rivers and lakes near cities and industrial sites. Different rivers and lakes offer many possibilities. Some are only suitable for micro hydropower or aquathermal heating and cooling, some can be used in combination, while others are suitable for neither. An understanding of the criteria is important to determine the potential of different areas.
In this project, a potential map of aquathermal energy and micro hydropower was developed and is available at this link. The map provides a high-level overview of the potential of both technologies from department to urban area. The potential at a very small scale, such as a small village, any part of a river, etc., is not covered. For example, it is possible to consult the potential of aquathermal and micro hydropower for the city of Montería, but the tool does not show the exact locations where the city of Montería can exploit its potential. The analysis includes only the main rivers (minimum discharge of 1 m3/s) in Colombia and not the smaller streams and mountain rivers. The purpose of this tool is to create the ability for policy makers, government agencies, project developers, etc. to quickly assess whether the site they are interested in has potential for aquathermal cooling and/or micro-hydropower.
In addition to the development of a potential map, detailed studies were prepared for some promising cases to map the potential in more detail. The dissemination of the results of the high-level map and cases to local stakeholders through online and physical events in Colombia had a central role in this project.
As oil and gas resources dwindle and the need to reduce CO2 emissions increases, hydropower and aquathermal energy offer sustainable alternatives for generating electricity and for cooling and heating buildings. Yet the potential for using these systems in many developing countries has not yet been well explored and they are not currently considered economically viable. This means that the opportunity to serve a wide range of activities, such as irrigation, (waste) water treatment, food processing, electric mobility, telecommunications, and even health care and education, through these renewable systems is being missed.
Moreover, the mix of renewable energy in this context is also often limited to solar panels and wind power. Micro hydropower and aquathermal heating & cooling are often overlooked, even when there are rivers and lakes near cities and industrial sites. Different rivers and lakes offer many possibilities. Some are only suitable for micro hydropower or aquathermal heating and cooling, some can be used in combination, while others are suitable for neither. An understanding of the criteria is important to determine the potential of different areas.
In this project, a potential map of aquathermal energy and micro hydropower was developed and is available at this link. The map provides a high-level overview of the potential of both technologies from department to urban area. The potential at a very small scale, such as a small village, any part of a river, etc., is not covered. For example, it is possible to consult the potential of aquathermal and micro hydropower for the city of Montería, but the tool does not show the exact locations where the city of Montería can exploit its potential. The analysis includes only the main rivers (minimum discharge of 1 m3/s) in Colombia and not the smaller streams and mountain rivers. The purpose of this tool is to create the ability for policy makers, government agencies, project developers, etc. to quickly assess whether the site they are interested in has potential for aquathermal cooling and/or micro-hydropower.
In addition to the development of a potential map, detailed studies were prepared for some promising cases to map the potential in more detail. The dissemination of the results of the high-level map and cases to local stakeholders through online and physical events in Colombia had a central role in this project.
Project Colombia
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Interested in an aquathermal installation? Read more on our approach on why an aquathermal system migh be interesting for your water body!
