New desedimentation system to boost efficiency of Enel's Venaus hydro plant

Italian energy company Enel has inaugurated a continuous sediment removal system at the Venaus hydroelectric power plant in the northern Italian region of Piedmont.

The system works by lifting the sediments from the bottom of the tank by a series of agitators. Next, a dredging raft sucks them up with a suction pump and conveys them to the Mompantero hydroelectric plant located downstream. From there, once diluted, they are released in a controlled manner into the Cenischia stream, which is downstream of the plant.

According to Enel, continuous cleaning of the tank removes sediments that limit water storage capacity, thus enabling greater hydroelectric power production at the Venaus plant.

Have you read?
Austria’s Limberg III pumped storage plant officially opens
Paris Pledge launches to accelerate pumped storage hydro in Europe

This means that it is no longer necessary to shut down the power plant to empty the tank for periodic cleaning, thereby increasing the plant's operational efficiency. Furthermore, returning the sediment to the watercourse reduces the risk of coastal erosion, Enel claims.

The new desedimentation system is connected to the floating solar photovoltaic system located inside the loading tank. The agitators are positioned under the floating platform on which the PV panels are mounted, and the agitators are powered by the panels.

The plant is also supported by a system of sensors that monitor sediment flow, the water level and flow rate, enabling remote management of potential faults and facilitating predictive analysis and maintenance.

The new system introduced at Venaus could be exported to similar plants in the future, states Enel, to increase efficiency and environmental sustainability.