Progetto ALPHEUS

“Augmenting grid stability through low-head pumped hydro energy utilization & storage”

ABSTRACT
ALPHEUS is a €5 million project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program.
The aim of the project is to optimize reversible pump/turbine technology and adapt civil structures adjacent to low-topography coastal areas to make hydroelectric storage from shallow seas economically viable.
Indeed, it is widely believed that the high increase in intermittent renewables and the energy transition to zero-carbon energy pose considerable challenges to the stability of the electric grid.
ALPHEUS foresees an initial evaluation of 3 technologies starting from the validation of current assumptions in the lab and continuing with their optimization through numerical simulations.
Based on the preliminary results, two technologies will be taken forward and their functionality will be demonstrated under realistic circumstances. Finally, a reasoned evaluation for further development into a large-scale prototype will be provided.
UNITUS is responsible for investigating the environmental impacts of the project, including the compatibility of the proposed technologies with landscape and land use for efficient siting, and estimating the mortality of iconic fish species such as salmon and eel to investigate the impact on migratory populations.

PROGRAM
H2020
CALL
H2020-LC-SC3-2019-NZE-RES-CC
TYPE OF ACTION
RIA
FUNDING
4.996.825,00 euro
START DATE
01/04/2020
LENGTH
48 months

LINK

https://alpheus-h2020.eu

PARTNER
Università degli Studi della Tuscia
Scientific coordinators
Marco Marcelli, Andrea Miccoli
DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY
DIBAF- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agri-food and Forestry Systems