PNNL

Abstract

Conducting pre-feasibility studies on hydro power sites can be expensive, technically challenging, and time-consuming for a variety of stakeholders from developers to small asset owners. HydroGenerate is an open-source Python library designed to assist hydropower developers and other stakeholders in estimating the generation potential at a user-selected site, while also aiming to reduce the technical and financial burdens associated with the initial pre feasibility analysis phase. HydroGenerate can help reduce the above-mentioned barriers by providing realistic insights into a site’s technical potential and performance. Thereby helping hydropower stakeholders make decisions confidently and move projects forward if feasible. Additionally, HydroGenerate can support researchers in evaluating the potential of new hydropower technologies or plant operating policies. Also, due to the light-weight nature of the tool, HydroGenerate can be used alongside third-party packages to investigate solutions to a variety of other energy system challenges (e.g., capacity expansion models, hybrid plant optimization, etc.). The tool can process historical site data (where available), estimate technical potential, and provide a preliminary economic analysis. Both the tool and the accompanying user guide are crafted to facilitate ease of use for beginners, while also offering deeper analysis capabilities for more experienced users.