The master’s dissertation in Civil Engineering, titled “Hybrid optimised energy solutions based on pumped-storage-hydro and surge-free-surface flow analysis”, by student Miguel Tavares, under the supervision of Professor Helena Margarida Ramos, received an Honorable Mention in the 2025 REN Award.
This study focused on optimizing the energy efficiency of a reversible hydroelectric system with pumped storage, integrating other intermittent renewable energy sources (i.e., wind and solar PV) and experimental tests on the flow behavior in adduction channels. The goal was to determine the optimal pumping and turbine operation periods through multi-objective optimization, in order to maximize the economic component and minimize the number of wind turbines. Several scenarios integrating different renewable energy sources were evaluated. In each scenario, solutions with varying daily turbine volumes were analyzed, both with and without the integration of batteries, as a means to complement pumped storage and improve the hydraulic and energy efficiency of the system.
Hybrid renewable energy solutions promote energy security, decentralized production, emission reduction, and social inclusion. By enabling lower tariffs, they expand access to clean energy and foster sustainable development and I t is the first time that it has been awarded to a DECivil student.
The REN Award 2025 aims to recognize the best master’s and doctoral theses in the field of energy, across different areas, particularly engineering.