Reflecting on the PEN@Hydropower Training School in Uppsala: A Week of Learning, Collaboration, and Inspiration
This year, we proudly launched the 4th edition of the PEN@Hydropower Training School on Sustainable Hydropower—this time in the beautiful city of Uppsala, Sweden. Hosted by Uppsala University, the Training School brought together a dynamic group of 25 early-career researchers and professionals from both academia and industry, representing a 2/3–1/3 mix and with 30% female participation. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and drive shaped an inspiring and immersive four-day program dedicated to building a more sustainable future for hydropower.
Our journey began with a deep dive into the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, led by experts Jian-hua Meng (HTWG Hochschule Konstanz), João Costa (Hydropower Sustainability Alliance), and Barbara Fischer-Aupperle. Participants stepped into the shoes of various stakeholders—developers, environmental groups, and others—to navigate the complexities of sustainable decision-making through realistic case scenarios. This hands-on exercise helped illustrate the real-world implications of sustainability standards in hydropower projects.
The training also featured engaging presentations from each of the five COST Action CA21104 Working Groups:
WG1: Charles Rougé
WG2: Dogan Gezer
WG3: Marie-Pierre Gosselin, PhD
WG4: Egidijus Kasiulis
WG5: Barbara Fischer-Aupperle
These sessions provided invaluable insights into the current research priorities and collaborative efforts underway across Europe.
A highlight of the Training School was the site visit to Vattenfall’s R&D Center in Älvkarleby, a world-class facility situated along the Dalälven River. Participants explored cutting-edge research on environmental sustainability and digital inspection technologies, including:
The Laxelerator, a unique simulation facility for studying fish migration and supporting fish-friendly hydropower solutions in line with the EU Water Framework Directive
The Digital Inspection Lab, showcasing advanced technologies for the monitoring and maintenance of hydropower infrastructure
We are especially grateful to Mats Billstein and Niklas Hansson for organising this visit and sharing their expertise—it was a powerful example of theory meeting practice.
Following the site visit, participants worked in teams to present their sustainability assessments of the Älvkarleby facility, each from a distinct stakeholder perspective. These group exercises sparked thoughtful discussions and debates, fostering a deeper understanding of how hydropower projects must balance energy needs with environmental and social priorities.
As the week drew to a close, it was clear that the Training School had become more than just an academic event—it had evolved into a space for networking, exchange, and future collaboration. We were thrilled to see connections being made, ideas taking root, and a shared vision for the future of sustainable hydropower coming into focus.
Congratulations to all participants on receiving their certificates! Your dedication, insight, and enthusiasm left a lasting impression. We are confident that the experiences and knowledge gained during this week will continue to shape your work and contributions to the hydropower community.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our Swedish hosts—especially Prof. Urban Lundin (Uppsala University) and Mats Billstein (Vattenfall)—for their warm welcome and invaluable support. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the dedicated PEN@Hydropower team:
Sebastian Muntean, Eduard Doujak, Charles Rougé, Dogan Gezer, Marie-Pierre Gosselin, Egidijus Kasiulis, Barbara Fischer-Aupperle, Jian-hua Meng, João Costa, and Daniel Patauner.
We look forward to seeing where this experience takes our participants next—and to continuing our shared mission to promote sustainable hydropower across Europe and beyond.