PEN@Hydropower publishes new whitepaper on digitalisation in hydropower
PEN@Hydropower COST Action CA21104 has published “Digitalisation in Hydropower”, a new whitepaper setting out a practical European agenda for modernising hydropower through digital technologies. Developed by Working Group 2, Technological Evolution Through Innovation & Digitalisation, the publication addresses policymakers, regulators, plant owners and operators, technology suppliers and the research community.
The paper identifies refurbishment as a timely opportunity to strengthen digital capability across Europe’s existing hydropower fleet. Decisions made during major overhauls can shape plant operation for decades. Incorporating sensors, secure control systems and clear data access arrangements at this stage can help operators respond to growing flexibility requirements and changing hydrological conditions.
Seven priority areas guide the analysis: cybersecurity and interoperability; AI-enabled forecasting and decision support; predictive maintenance; flexible operation; climate resilience; digital twins; and hybrid energy systems. The paper distinguishes established tools, such as condition monitoring and hydrological forecasting, from more integrated applications that still require demonstration and validation across different plants.
At policy and industry level, the whitepaper proposes five decisions for coordinated European action:
Include digital readiness in major refurbishment, with assessments covering instrumentation, control systems, data access and cybersecurity.
Create common data and interoperability foundations so operators can use their data and integrate solutions from different suppliers.
Expand demonstrations across plants and vendors, building evidence that digital methods can transfer between technologies and operating conditions.
Reward flexibility and system services appropriately, recognising storage, grid support and the wear associated with more demanding operation.
Invest in people and assurance, combining engineering and digital skills with validation, clear responsibilities and human oversight.
For owners and operators, the paper recommends beginning with specific decisions that need better information, such as maintenance timing or reservoir operation during drought. It outlines a staged approach: assess existing assets and data, deploy priority use cases, integrate operational decisions, and then extend proven methods across plants and fleets. Procurement guidance addresses data rights, cybersecurity, validation and long-term maintenance.
A proposed roadmap runs from establishing common foundations in 2026–2028 to wider adoption across fleets by 2030 and increasingly integrated operation towards 2040. Environmental objectives remain part of this progression, including ecological flows, sediment management, water quality and competing reservoir uses. The paper also sets out safeguards against poor data, cyberattacks, supplier dependence and excessive reliance on automated recommendations.
The publication was prepared under task lead René Schumann, with Working Group 2 leader Dogan Gezer and mentor Pavel Rudolf, alongside the priority-area authors. It also acknowledges George Aggidis for his review and contributions to the paper’s clarity.