Hydropower generates electricity and brings sediments. When water levels are lower in dry summers, engineering teams take the opportunity to dredge. By removing sludge, it increases reservoir capacity, and offers usable materials.
Material Knowledge
Due to water pumping or erosion upstream, hydropower plants accumulate sediments in reservoirs downstream. In daily operations, regular dredging is necessary to extend reservoir lifecycles.
Material Property
Reservoir sediments are sticker than conventional soil, and include more impurities, such as gravels and plants. Before using, sediments are dried, and impurities are filtered out. With abundant organic matters, firing methods are also different from conventional clay.
Material Source and Quantity
TPCreative is using sludge and sediments mostly from Sun Moon Lake Reservoir. Traditional dredging methods only remove 10,000 cubic meters a year. After TaiPower introduces new hydropower sediment ejection methods, it can remove 300,000 cubic meters a year, comparable to annual accumulation levels.
