How to avoid severe incidents at hydropower plants

Hydropower is now changing its role from the energy generator into the most powerful and reliable tool for stabilizing the electrical network, especially under the increase of intermittent power sources like wind-power and solar-power. Although the hydropower plants are the most robust generating facilities, they are not immune from unexpected severe incidents having long downtime, considerable restoration cost and sometimes fatalities. The present paper provides some study results about severe incidents in the conventional hydropower plants, mainly about the flood, fire and electromechanical troubles, except for the incidents of civil facilities. It also provides some possible scenarios which may lead some measures how to avoid such incidents. Finally, it provides some comprehensible recommendations to avoid severe incidents based on experiences.