Hydropower is the second-largest source of renewable electricity in Europe. It plays a crucial role in complementing more intermittent renewables like wind and solar, thanks to its exceptional flexibility and storage potential. However, the ongoing transition to renewables, the aging of existing hydropower plants, and increasingly stringent environmental policies are driving the need for technological innovation.
Supporting Europe’s hydropower potential sustainably is essential. This means developing cost-effective hydropower technologies while minimizing environmental impacts. Exploring environmental mitigation strategies is at the core of this research topic. Areas of investigation include:
- Reservoir sedimentation and sediment continuity – Sedimentation gradually reduces reservoir storage capacity for hydropower, drinking water, and irrigation. It also disrupts natural sediment transport in rivers, posing significant environmental challenges.
- Advancing environmental monitoring at hydropower plants – What are the most relevant metrics to measure? How frequently should they be monitored? Should assessments focus on local conditions or take a broader watershed-scale approach?
- Testing fish-friendly turbines – Investigating turbine designs that reduce impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
- Assessing the untapped potential of small, distributed hydropower and non-powered dams – Exploring opportunities to harness energy from existing infrastructure across Europe and Switzerland.