1.  Why is the HY4RES project necessary?

 

The need for more sustainable energy systems is becoming more pressing every year. Providing safe and efficient energy from renewable sources is a major European challenge, whether in industry or on a smaller scale in local or more remote communities.

 

The HY4RES project will help improve the penetration rate of renewable energies in the energy system, to meet the objectives set by the European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goal 7 on clean and affordable energy.

 

2.  What are the project's challenges?

One of the major challenges is the variable availability of renewable energy sources across the Atlantic Area. These energy sources need to be managed more efficiently using new technological and digital solutions, to enable their interoperability and maximise their use.

To meet these challenges, the HY4RES project will work on the development and demonstration of hybrid renewable energy systems combining wind, solar and hydropower, as well as on energy storage.

 

3.  What actions are being implemented?

HY4RES relies on researchers, businesses, local authorities, and many other stakeholders to test sustainable energy production systems on pilot sites, and to respond the energy needs of different sectors. The partners will be working on:

1) The development of cost-effective small-scale solutions for hybrid electricity generation (wind/solar/hydro) and energy storage;

2) The creation of management software based on artificial intelligence, forecasting models following energy production and users energy demand;

3) Demonstration of hybrid renewable energy systems in 4 pilot sites: Ireland (aquaculture), Spain (agriculture and ports) and Portugal (community energy);

4) Assessment of the sustainability of the hybrid RE systems and decision-making tools for the innovations deployment;

5) Creation of a "Community of Practice" to involve and disseminate the project results among a wide network of stakeholders.

 

4.  HY4RES pilot sites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ireland - Aquaculture pilot site

Located in the north-west of Ireland, in County Donegal, the HY4RES aquaculture pilot site will implement a hybrid renewable energy system combining wind and hydro power. The implementation of a hybrid system to produce energy, and the use of management software, will help us maximise the energy produced in a fish processing plant.

Activities at this pilot site will focus on:

• Hybridising existing renewable energy production systems and increasing the export capacity of output energy;
• Development of hydropower technologies that respect biodiversity;
• Development of a software to design hybrid renewable energy systems, assessed at small hydropower installation scale.

Objectives:

• Demonstrate the potential for decarbonisation of the aquaculture sector using multiple energy sources (wind, solar, hydro);
• Measure and balance supply and demand from these variable output sources electricity, measure energy storage capacity and opportunities;
• Demonstrate the potential for optimising the management of available renewable energy sources, saving costs, and reducing emissions.

 

Spain - Port of Avilés – Port pilot site

Located in the port of Avilés, in the north of Spain, the port pilot site will implement a hybrid renewable energy system, combining solar, wind and hydropower at a micro-scale.

Activities at this pilot site will include the implementation of a modular system installation to test local smart grid, supplying power to the port’s small-scale demands: by harnessing water current within the port, and using energy control and management system including sensors and electronic control board.

Objectives:

• Reduce installation and maintenance costs;
• Ensure the hybrid system sustainability by optimising the use of renewable energy sources through intelligent management;
• Obtain a renewable and self-manageable energy production;
• Design a sustainable system with cost-effective components;
• Test operation and maintenance under real conditions, which can be implemented in several locations.

 

Portugal – Community Energy

The pilot site at Castainheira de Pera and Marruge in Portugal concerns a community energy. The aim is to install a hybrid renewable energy system and implement software to manage the community's energy needs. The system uses water from the small stream, solar energy captured on the surrounding slopes and wind energy. Activities at Castainheira de Pera will include the rehabilitation of an old cap factory equipped with a water turbine, its adaptation to a museum and the use of management software. Activities at Marruge will include the rehabilitation of an old water mill and the use of management software.

Objectives:

• Energy self-sufficiency for the community;
• Increase attractiveness and competitiveness of the region;
• Rehabilitate old installations to create a hybrid renewable energy system.

 

Spain – Valle Inferior – Agriculture pilot plant (irrigation)

The Spanish agriculture pilot site is linked to the Valle Inferior irrigation system, within the Guadalquivir basin in Andalusia. The area benefits from existing solar panels that supply the country's irrigation systems, and from the Peñaflor weir, which is used to irrigate the region.

The idea is to use solar energy and management tools in existing installations and implement a hybrid renewable energy system on a small irrigation water storage pond using floating solar panels. Activities at this pilot site will include the development of design software to determine the ideal sizing of components; run and environmental, economic and energy analysis, and cost-benefit analysis.

Objectives:

• Avoid the use of agricultural land for solar energy production, and replace the more polluting energy source usually used (diesel generators);
• Find the best way to manage an irrigation system to maximise the use of renewable energy, reduce main grid consumption, costs and carbon emissions;
• Reduce evaporation losses from the pond, reduce algae content;
• Improve solar panels performance using lessons learned from the hybrid operation of solar and hydro energy.

5.  Who is involved in the project?

HY4RES involves 9 partners from 4 Atlantic Area countries: Ireland, Spain, Portugal and France, working in the fields of renewable energy, agriculture, aquaculture and ports sector.

 

 

 

 

Trinity College Dublin - Project coordinator

TCD is responsible for managing the project and ensures that the deliverables are produced correctly,  according to the Interreg Atlantic Area programme.

• Experienced in European projects: research, development and demonstration of hydropower, solar and wind production systems;

Its role:

• Responsible for the overall management and delivery of technical and financial aspects of the project, and creation of a hybrid RE design software ;
• Contribute to environmental impact and life cycle sustainability assessment in the implementation of the Irish aquaculture pilot site.

 

 

 

Easy Hydro - Partner

An SME involved in the development of renewable energy systems, and in the design of hydraulic systems.

• Artificial intelligence modelling of new renewable energy systems, designing micro hydropower installations;

Its role:

• Leader of the solar energy forecast modelling system: software linked to the PAT (reverse rotation pump);
• Research on energy management optimization.

 

 

 

 

 

University of Cordoba (Department of Agronomy) - Partner

The Department of Agronomy of the University of Córdoba works on hydraulic and irrigation related topics, in collaboration with the irrigation sector of southern Spain.

• Optimise the link between water and energy in agriculture: efficient use of energy in water distribution systems, implementation of AI for water demand forecasting;

Its role:

• Responsible for developing a management system using artificial intelligence and forecasts on the production and consumption of renewable energies;
• Study and research on the solar plants installed in the Valle Inferior irrigated area.

 

 

 

 

 

Feragua - Association of Irrigation Communities of Andalusia - Partner

Collaboration with irrigation communities in Andalusia and participation in projects to optimise the use of water and energy in agricultural irrigation.

• Network of agricultural stakeholders in Spain.

Its role:

• Represent Andalusian irrigations communities, implement pilot demonstration of new technologies and hybrid RE systems in agricultural pilot sites;
• Co-develop the community of practice in the agricultural sector and organise workshops.
• Implement a communication plan for the project in Andalusia to transmit the results among those interested in the field of irrigated agriculture.

 

 

 

Instituto Superior Técnico, Engineering Faculty of the University of Lisbon - Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment - Partner

A major actor in the engineering, science and technology fields in Portugal.

• Development, research and innovation of renewable energy technologies, energy storage and management.

Its role:

• Demonstration and development of technology, software and digital solutions for four hybrid renewable energy systems.

 

 

 

 

University of Oviedo – Energy department - Hydraulic Area - Partner

The University of Oviedo’s team is expert in renewable energy research and development in Spain.

• Field of marine renewable energies: development of new technologies through numerical simulation, experimental techniques, and study of air and water flows.

Its role:

• Research, development, and design with testing, to implement new technologies at port sites, and improve the use of resources present in these installations.

 

 

 

 

IG Energy - Partner

An experienced entreprise with skills in preliminary feasibility estimations and technical-economic feasibility studies, for instructing small-hydro licensing processes.

• Consultancy in designing and implementation, assessment of hydropower potential.

Its role:

• Development of hybrid renewable energy system design software in relation to wind and hydropower plant sizing;
• Development of optimisation software for the management of hybrid RE systems, linked to AI and models forecasting, and implementation of the Portuguese pilot site.

 

 

 

Vertigo Lab supports decision-makers from companies and local authorities at local, national, and international level, in their strategies and policies to activate responsible innovation and meet the challenges of tomorrow.

• Working on climate change and the sustainable transformation of economic models, it provides consultancy, analysis, and expertise to local and European stakeholders.

Its role:

• Providing expertise in assessing socio-economic, environmental, social, societal and public policy impacts, in particular using the USE matrix (Social and Ecological Utility Analysis Grid).

 

Association of the Chambers of Agriculture of the Atlantic Area - Partner

AC3A leads European projects for the Chambers of Agriculture, focusing on agricultural issues and challenges facing the Atlantic regions, in relation to environment, biodiversity or bioeconomy.

• As an umbrella organisation, AC3A shares the knowledge and know-how from the Chambers of Agriculture as advisors and trainers for farmers, facilitators and innovation brokers for rural development at local level, as well as conducting research and development activities at farm level and regional level.

Its role:

• Communication leader, long-term valorisation of project results, uptake of innovative practices.

6.  Deliverables

• Technological and digital innovations: fish-friendly turbine; hybrid renewable energy system design software; renewable energy management software components and integrated software tool
• 4 demonstration pilot sites of hybrid renewable energy systems (with virtual tours available on the HY4RES website)
• 5 events to co-develop technological innovations with stakeholders
• Reports on ecological, social and economic impact assessments and on the sustainability of HY4RES technologies
• Roadmap for the development of HY4RES technologies, opportunity matrix and information note for economic and policy stakeholders

Project results will be presented through publications, scientific articles, webinars and conferences during the course of the project.