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Based on new policies of the European Union, green technologies are to be mostly considered for power generation. Hydropower generation is one of the essential elements of sustainable energy production. Therefore, specific attention, both economically and technically, needs to be given to this sector of energy production. The Vistula River in Poland is considered an international waterway. The power production potential of the river has been taken into account over the years. However, further configurations are needed to obtain a more in-depth ecological knowledge-base and economic plans, which are socially approved. In an attempt to make the project environmentally friendly, specific attention was put into sustainable transport. Different methods of transport were researched to find the most renewable transport combination, mainly based on waterways. Having performed a cost–benefit analysis related to the economic aspects of the project, it was found that such an investment is highly profitable (B/C = 2.81). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the thermal stabilization of a water resource together with an energy production optimization in the power plant of the dam–reservoir coupled system is conducted. This coupled dam system is designed to consist of a primary (Włocławek) and secondary (Siarzewo) dam due to the erosion control aspect. The other beneficial aspect of this coupled dam design is to have an additional power plant, with the aim of achieving more efficient renewable energy production. One of the factors to be included in the conditions influencing the energy production is the ice formation in the reservoir and tailwater due to the hydrodynamic and meteorological conditions of the site location. Frazil formation and jam may reduce the power plant efficiency. The concept of thermal stabilization, based on the previous studies, refers to providing the ice cover in the reservoir section of a dam to isolate the water from thermal condition. In this research, the ice cover expansion is triggered by the discharge reduction over a specific time and the entire study site. The optimized discharge for stimulating the ice cover through the night was found based on the results, leading to the desired thermal stabilization. This power loss emerged by reduced water withdrawal in the specific time during the day (nighttime), and will be remedied by the more suitable hydrodynamic condition over winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, based upon human needs and preferring perpetual types of energy, photovoltaic system (PV) is a suitable alternative and more frequently used in northern countries, which are recently more attracted by solar power. The new floating type of the structure is installed in the water bodies instead of land. One of the main elements in floating photovoltaic structures is the forces imposed on the panels. In the northern regions, the dominant load is considered to be ice interaction with the structure. This study aims at identifying the loads imposed on a floating PV structure located in the Łapino Reservoir on the Radunia River, which are produced by the wind action on the ice cover. The wind velocity varying between 10 and 26 m/s is implemented, and also the reduction of the pool level was studied. Wind direction plays an important role in the inclination and expansion of ice accumulation. Moreover, the magnitude of wind velocity is a determinative factor in the maximum thickness emerged in various spot of the area. Changes in pool level reduction is not able to cause noticeable changes in ice cover expansion and maximum ice thickness. Additionally, the shoving mechanism is able to originate abrupt changes in ice thickness by means of rising wind velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]