Monitoring the river and the machinery

The Di-Hydro project, funded through the EU’s Horizon programme, is developing digital tools for hydropower operators. The system combines environmental sensors, sensors on turbines and other machinery, and digital twins that model how a plant behaves. Researchers are testing the approach in Greece, Italy and Serbia. The goal is to give operators better information about both energy output and conditions in the water.

Balancing output and aquatic life

Hydropower plants can affect fish and other aquatic organisms through changes in flow and pressure. Di-Hydro’s tools are designed to help operators adjust operations with those effects in view, rather than treating ecology as a separate concern. Horizon Magazine reports that the project is still in the research and demonstration stage. The work illustrates how sensing and modelling can support engineering decisions at facilities where energy and environmental goals meet.