Small and Micro Hydropower Plants

Bernhard Pelikan is a lecturer and researcher in the Institute of Water Management, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna. He is also a legal advisor for hydropower exploitation and flood protection, lecturer at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Vienna and at TGM Vienna. For over three decades he has been the CEO of an engineering and consulting company focusing on small hydropower development. He currently owns, manages and run an Austrian small hydropower plant along with a partner.

Hydrology
Discharge estimation in ungauged and small catchments
New technologies in discharge measurements
Weirs and Water intakes
High head
Low head
Water ways
Turbines
Mini and micro turbines
Compact turbines
Water wheels
Archimedic screws
Pump-as-turbine
Gear boxes and belt drives
Generators
Variable speed
Low speed
Remote control
Simple
Robust
Environment
Ecological flow (calculation and estimation methods)
Fish bypassing (latest technologies and developments)
Climate Change impacts
Engineering
Tools for project selection
Hydraulic simulation
Making use of GIS
Engineering procedure
Project structuring and development
Community involvement negotiation and mediation
Information
Communication
Contracts
Economics
Costs calculation tools
Rentability estimation tools
Financing options
Policy and regulation
Legal framework conditions
Support tools
Target-aspects of regulation
Operation
Tools
Remote supervision and maintenance
Case studies