Investigating the Flexibilization of Hydraulic Storage Power Plants in the Nordics

The increase in supply-dependent renewable energy sources and the decommissioning of thermal power plants leads to an increasing need for flexibility in the future European electricity supply system. In this context, hydraulic power plants represent a mature and renewable flexibility option. The EU Horizon 2020 project “HydroFlex” aims to increase the value of hydropower through increased flexibility. To this end, the project aims to develop a flexible turbine capable of very flexible operation and in particular several start/stop cycles per day. In this paper, different types of flexibility are first analyzed as they are required in the future European power system. Subsequently, the paper presents a method simulating the operation of highly complex hydraulic power plant parks, which is essential to investigate future operational requirements and to evaluate the turbine technology developed within the “HydroFlex” project from a systemic perspective. The focus is, in particular, on the future operation of hydraulic power plants in the Nordics in order to meet the increasing flexibility demands in the European power system.