- Global, holistic and systematic analysis of hydropower opportunities of stream networks up to a country-wide scope
- High-level analysis and identification of technically and economically viable hydropower projects
- Analysis and assessment of the relative and absolute highest hydropower potential of analyzed stream sections or the entire study area
- Geovisualization of the analyzed hydropower potential and top-ranked economically viable projects
The main components of the hydroMinds tool are:
The DIGITAL TERRAIN ANALYSIS TOOL automatically develops the stream network of the assessed study area. All relevant morphometric parameters to model the topographic characteristics of the study area are derived from a digital elevation model serving the tool as input data.
The HYDROLOGICAL MODELING TOOL models runoff-processes of the study area to estimate available discharges for any point of the systematically derived stream network.
The PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION TOOL creates a comprehensive set of data points of the entire study area with all relevant spatial information and unique IDs for the geo-location of river points.
The VERIFICATION AND ACCURACY TOOL allows accuracy assessment and data amendments based on validation data, including elevation model correction and discharge prediction based on synthetically generated regional applicable flow duration curves.
The TECHNICAL HYDROPOWER CALCULATION TOOL estimates the technical hydropower potential for pre-set river sections based on physical, technical and ecological input parameters.
The ECONOMICALLY VIABLE HYDROPOWER CALCULATION TOOL identifies the economically viable hydropower potential of the analyzed stream network after assessing all possible combinations of virtual hydropower plants. Calculations are based on several economic parameters and evaluation models, ensuring a high quality reliable result. Individual physical and technical conditions of each possible virtual project result in individual benefits and costs to allow identification of the top economically viable projects.
The WEB BROWSER-BASED ONLINE TOOL allows the user to customize all relevant input parameters to test and analyze sensitivities at sites of interest, including but not limited to generating charts, tables and colored potential maps of analyzed study sites.
- Maps of the relative and absolute technical hydropower potential of analyzed rivers
- Detailed maps and tables of economically viable projects of the entire study area
- In-depth river analysis, including the elevation profile, flow exceedance curves, flow duration curves according to the temporal resolution of hydrometric input-data
- Meticulous results of analyzed rivers in a table-format
- A Geographic Information System capable of all input data spatially referenced and with the relevant attribute data, plus available high-resolution aerial or satellite images for manual visual analysis of assessed sites
- Comprehensive sql-database of data points of the study area with all input information preserved based upon their spatial location
- Web-accessible browser-based graphical administration tool to modify input parameters and to generate modified output tables, charts and maps of the study area
