Integrated hydrological–energy analysis of a hypothetical forebay storage system for enhancing run-of-river hydro-power generation

This study presents an integrated hydrological-energy assessment of a hypothetical fore-bay storage system for the La Vega run-of-river small hydropower plant in southern Spain. Daily discharge records from 2017–2025 were analyzed using flow duration curves, storage simulations, and hydropower energy calculations to evaluate the effects of temporary water retention on electricity generation. Several storage scenarios were inves-tigated to assess their influence on turbine utilization and annual energy production. Re-sults indicate that temporary storage can significantly improve plant performance. The optimal storage volume of approximately 600 th.m³ increased annual generation by 18.05%, from 2935.8 to 3465.9 MWh/year.