This master thesis examines technical requirements for small hydro power plants (HPP) to operate proximate parts of the power grid in island mode. The work examines how small hydropower can be modified and complemented with additional technologies to achieve sufficient frequency control capabilities. A case study was performed within the concession area of power grid operator Ålem Energy. One of the HPPs, located in Skälleryd, is owned by Ålem Energy and became the focal point of the study. Relevant parts of the concession area were surveyed for properties such as system inertia, electric load and available power. Furthermore, a model of Kaplan turbine 1 in Skälleryd HPP was created with the purpose of studying the benefits of bypassing regulation control from the wicket gates directly to the runner. The method was tested in an off-grid islanding test. Frequency control of the turbine was tested powering electric heaters and, using a new method, controlling a virtual power grid. Finally, a theory was developed to estimate the transient disturbance resilience (TDR) of a power grid. The theory was applied to the HPP in Skälleryd to suggest modifications for the plant to achieve sufficient islanding capabilities. The survey of the power system revealed a promising potential for the HPPs to operate in island mode, especially at later stages when the grid spans several HPPs for more system inertia. The available power from the HPPs was however strongly seasonal which imposes flexibility on a future plan of action for engaging the grid in island mode. The method of controlling the turbine power from the runner proved to have several difficulties. Firstly, the current hydraulics system was not able to freely control the runner as the hydrodynamic forces on the runner blades were too large. Secondly, the method was found to be unstable due to inherent amplification of speed deviations. Furthermore, the low inertia at Skälleryd is likely detrimental to the lone frequency control of the turbine. Therefore other methods for improving frequency control were suggested. The developed theory for TDR was used to create charts describing the TDR for various combinations of system inertia and regulation speed. By studying the proprieties of Skälleryd HPP in the charts the necessary modifications could be rationally chosen. A frequency regulating dummy load was found to be the simplest option. A control scheme was suggested with the dummy load performing primary frequency control and the turbines at Skälleryd performing secondary control, restoring the dummy load to its nominal state.

This thesis examines the benefits and drawbacks of cloud computing technology within the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector of Sweden and Finland. It employs the case study of the recently developed and launched Digital Archive Project at Åland Maritime Museum which leveraged the Amazon Web Services (AWS) technology stack to provide a cloud-based digital platform for the museum's archival materials. The primary objective of this study is to understand the interaction, usage, and suitability of cloud computing technologies and the impact of User Experience (UX) (primary users being the GLAM professionals) on digitalization efforts. This study analyzes eight GLAM institutions in Sweden and Finland using semi-structured interviews and compares the trust and readiness of adapting to private cloud service providers. The findings reveal that Finland has a more ‘aggressive’ and experimental approach to newer technologies such as cloud computing tools, compared to Sweden. In Sweden, there is an appreciation for pleasant UX and methods to make heritage material more accessible, but there is also a lot of hesitation due to the data privacy regulations in the aftermath of the Schrems II Judgment and the invalidation of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Agreement. The study concludes that AWS as a cloud provider is difficult to incorporate in the public sector GLAM institutions compared to the private sector. The study also provides practical recommendations for GLAM institutions and professionals and calls for further interdisciplinary research with Digital Humanists at the center of it.