The Smart Hydropower Solutions (SMART-HS) project aims to optimise hydropower systems in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to ensure sustainable and equitable energy access.
It will support cleaner, more reliable energy generation, particularly in underserved rural areas, while fostering inclusive and sustainable practices, and will be funded by UK Research and Innovation’s Ayrton Challenge Programme.
Hydropower currently provides more than half of the energy in the Lower Mekong region.
However, the systems face increasing challenges from climate variability, ageing infrastructure, and the need to meet growing energy demands.
The three-year project led by Professor Louise Slater, professor of hydroclimatology at the School of Geography and the Environment, will look to address theses issues.
SMART-HS will develop monitoring and forecasting technologies to improve the efficiency and safety of the region’s hydropower networks.
Professor Slater said: “We are excited to work with our co-investigators in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to develop novel technologies integrating sensors and satellite-based monitoring with existing models and machine learning to support the energy efficiency and safety of the existing network of small hydropower plants.”
The project will use low-cost, real-time monitoring systems combined with advanced predictive analytics to enable hydropower plants to better respond to fluctuating energy demand and water availability.
By integrating data on weather patterns, water levels, and infrastructure safety, the project aims to improve the performance of hydropower networks while reducing risks to downstream communities.
Professor Slater added: “A core focus of the project is to empower local communities and ensure that all regions benefit from advancements in clean energy.
“This includes providing training to local operators and fostering gender equality in the energy sector to ensure no community is left behind.”
The project is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oxford, the University of Edinburgh, and international partners in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, including the Hanoi University of Mining and Geology and the National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation.
It builds on Oxford’s expertise in sustainability and international development, addressing global energy challenges.
The methods and technologies developed in this project could be adapted to other transboundary hydropower systems worldwide, creating a scalable model for sustainable energy transitions, the researchers say.
The Ayrton Challenge Programme, funded through the government’s Ayrton Fund, supports pioneering research aimed at addressing urgent global climate and energy challenges.
SMART-HS is one of 13 projects funded by this initiative, which focuses on enabling equitable transitions to low-carbon energy systems in developing countries.