{"id":1790,"date":"2026-02-23T07:32:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T07:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hydroalpslab.geekworkers.dev\/?post_type=projets&#038;p=1790"},"modified":"2026-03-03T16:57:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:57:41","slug":"project-ofen-pd-smallflex-goms","status":"publish","type":"projets","link":"https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/en\/projets\/projet-ofen-pd-smallflex-goms\/","title":{"rendered":"SmallFLEX Goms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Optimising the flexibility of small hydroelectric power stations in the Alps<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a context of energy transition, small hydroelectric power stations play a key role in decentralised and renewable production. However, their flexible operation, which is necessary to meet the needs of the grid, generates hydraulic and mechanical stresses that are sometimes poorly understood. The SFOE P+D project <strong>SmallFLEX Goms<\/strong> aims to better understand and characterise the dynamic behaviour of an Alpine hydroelectric scheme subject to variable operating regimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project has three main objectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Analysing transient regimes<\/strong> related to load changes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Characterising unsteady phenomena<\/strong> (pressure fluctuations, vortices, instabilities)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Assessing the impact of flexibility<\/strong> on the performance and durability of equipment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The ultimate aim is to provide operating support tools that increase flexibility without compromising plant reliability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The aim of the SmallFlex Goms project is firstly to confirm and implement the flexible operating methods identified for the KWGO plant in the SmallFLEX project, by adapting and validating these methods under real operating conditions. Applying the methodology developed for KWGO, an exhaustive inventory of small hydroelectric power stations in the Goms region was carried out in order to identify and classify sites with additional flexibility potential. For the most promising sites, KW Merezenbach and KW M\u00f6rel, a detailed hydraulic analysis of the technical limits was carried out, supplemented by short-term forecasts of hydrological inputs, solar potential and local wind generation in the region. At the same time, the risks of air entrainment were studied using scale model tests and numerical simulations, followed by on-site test campaigns to explore the actual operational capacities of the facilities. The value of integrating these flexible power plants into a virtual power plant (VPP) combining hydroelectric, photovoltaic and wind generation and storage was also assessed. Finally, a business model is being developed to estimate the economic benefits of implementing these new operating methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"609\" src=\"http:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SMG_ETHZZ-1024x609.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SMG_ETHZZ-1024x609.png 1024w, https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SMG_ETHZZ-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SMG_ETHZZ-768x457.png 768w, https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SMG_ETHZZ-1536x914.png 1536w, https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SMG_ETHZZ.png 1812w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: C. Streule, ETHZ-VAW, Hydro 2025 Conference<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","type-de-projet":[61,29,28,25],"class_list":["post-1790","projets","type-projets","status-publish","hentry","type-de-projet-mesures-sur-site","type-de-projet-recherche","type-de-projet-simulation-numerique","type-de-projet-fini"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projets\/1790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projets"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/projets"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"type-de-projet","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hydroalpslab.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-de-projet?post=1790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}