Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Energy Science and Engineering

Major Professor

Kristine Moody

Committee Members

Brenda M Pracheil, Scott J Holladay, Jon M Hathaway, Malcolm McLellan ,John S Schwartz

Abstract

Hydropower’s ability to quickly adapt to the variable generation of wind and solar can allow the electricity grid to integrate more renewable capacity. However, changing hydroelectric output to increase or decrease generation in response to solar or wind output changes the quantity of water flowing through the generators. Rapid flow fluctuations, required to closely correlate with changes in solar wind output can negatively impact downstream aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, the dispatch of hydroelectric generation must consider other uses for the water and storage provided by the facility such as recreation and flood control. This dissertation explores the energy-environmental-economic nexus of five case study conventional hydropower facilities when operating in a range of run-of-river conditions. We also analyze pumped storage hydropower’s ability to meet future short-term energy dispatch needs, and the feasibility of converting non-powered dams to power producing ones using Archimedes screw turbine technology. Findings from this dissertation demonstrate operation of five case study facilities (without considering non-power license restrictions included within a project’s operating license) within a discharge range of 140% to 200% of inflow supports both environmental sustainability and energy system stability. Additionally, modeling pumped storage hydropower to assume increased conventional hydropower demands reveals that pumped storage can meet at least 75% of required demands, if output was not restricted by the project’s operating license. This need for pumped storage to meet demands is influenced by variable renewable energy generation and battery capacity within the same balancing area. Lastly, this dissertation identifies the potential of using Archimedes screw turbines as a dual-purpose technology, offering fish passage and energy generation. However, projected changes in precipitation trends from 2024 to 2050 are expected to reduce the number of viable sites for such implementations. Our result suggests hydropower operations can aid in increasing renewable energy generation while limiting environmental impacts because pumped storage in the region can make up for the potential generation loss. We also present a framework for considering social, environmental and economic impacts of non-powered dam conversions using Archimedes screw turbines in future changing precipitation trends.

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