STSM Reports
Under the PEN@Hydropower Short Term Scientific Mission program, host institutions put forward research themes. Interested applicants can explore the array of research themes proposed by these host institutions and reach out to them for further details prior to submitting their applications.
2023
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Many large hydropower plants provide flexible electricity to the transmission grids, either by dispatching or shifting production, or by fast response and ancillary services to system needs. This ability depends on the plant type and on various physical, operational and market parameters.
Assessment of the current flexibility services of hydropower plants in the electricity grids of EU countries is a challenging task, whereas a methodology to evaluate and quantify the flexibility potential of a plant as function of the above parameters would be very useful. The aim of this STSM report is to review and collect, mainly through the internet, such information and data from the scientific literature, transmission grid operators, regulators, and other public or private authorities of various EU countries, and to start developing a corresponding data base about Flexibility Provided by Hydropower Today in the EU grids.
STSM report can be found here
The PowerPoint Presentation can be found here.
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The primary goal of this STSM was to identify challenges in digitalization a) implementation, b) data management issues, c) additional training and educations, d) identify approaches for implementation in hydropower industry.
The STSM report can be found here
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This STSM aimed to review and classify the environmental impacts of hydropower, initially focusing on gathering and analyzing data from literature provided by COST Action CA21104 members. Objectives included identifying positive and negative impacts, proposing mitigation measures, and understanding climate change effects on hydropower. Results included a completed table of impacts (noting environmental parameters affected, impact nature, and timing), a narrowed focus on fish ecology due to data limitations, and proposed fish-focused mitigation strategies.
Full STSM report here.
2024
2025
2026
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This STSM is intended to:
• Assess how much power and energy capacity from energy storage units in the future energy system will be needed to provide long-duration energy storage by PHS in 5 European countries with a 2030-2050 perspective.• Investigate how the increase in power and energy capacity will influence the annual energy load supply from renewable energy sources, thus reducing the annual production from fossil fuelled electricity sources and increasing the consumption of energy produced by VRES, which would otherwise have to be curtailed.
• Provide a data set of input and output for 5 European countries to model energy systems in the EnergyPLAN software.
The STSM can be found here.
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With recent policy developments, the importance of hydropower has once again been
highlighted in achieving the clean energy transition (CET). Instead of looking at large or
medium scale, a much smaller scale is being considered for which alternative and innovative technologies need to be thought of. Thus, the STSM is aiming at investigating innovative hidden hydro energy harvesting technology at a micro scale. The concept of vortex induced vibrations (VIV) for cylinders is widely known. However harvesting the energy which is produced by this oscillating movement is a relatively new and innovative technology.
STSM report can be found here
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During the mission, it is aimed to define strategies for the implementation of digitalisation and innovative technologies for various types of hydropower plants considering the age of the power plant: newly installed, upgraded, refurbished, considering the scale: micro, mini, small, medium or large, considering the type: run-of-river, hydropower with reservoirs and pumped storage hydropower plants, while continuing to review the most recent advances in hydropower technologies. Mission is performed in NORCE office at Tullins Gate 2, Oslo and visits to Grimstad office of NORCE and office of a large private hydroelectric company in Norway were performed. Visits were about the digitalisation projects which will be mentioned in later parts.
STSM report can be found here.
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The potential of harnessing energy from small water sources remains largely untapped due to the high costs and logistical challenges associated with conventional technologies. In response to this, mini/micro-hydro emerges as a compelling alternative for extracting energy from limited water sources, presenting innovative concepts distinct from traditional turbine/watermill plants.
STSM report can be found here.
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Through this STSM, the new role of hydropower within the power sector is evaluated, highlighting the hydropower importance in achieving the CET goals. Comparison between the shares of hydropower and renewable sources in total electricity generation in Europe a time frame of two decades is conducted in order to obtain a clear picture of the current hydropower status in Europe. The comparative analysis contributes to specifying the position of hydropower among the other renewable energy sources in Europe. The analysis is based on regional division (Eastern, Northern, Western and Southern Europe) to find influential parameters (such as national policies and landscape type) on hydropower expansion according to the regions. Landscape type/specific characteristics of the respective European region are related to the hydropower development so far and the remaining technically feasible hydropower potential.
The report can be found here
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This paper provides an overview of key international legal requirements for hydropower development, focusing on transboundary water law, relevant agreements, and sustainability principles, along with the duty specified in these agreements. It then examines the hydropower sustainability standards, including their transboundary aspects, and discusses the Duty to Respect Generally Accepted Standards within the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS). Finally, the paper analyzes how the HSS, combined with other regulatory tools, contributes to achieving sustainable hydropower projects.
Link to document here.
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This scientific mission aimed to address these limitations by assessing the reliability of hydropower GHG emissions estimations using a robust dataset obtained through diverse methodological approaches, including field campaigns and satellite-based observations. Specifically, the mission evaluated the capacity of satellite data to improve the accuracy and consistency of water quality variables that influence GHG emissions estimates. The findings intended to support future efforts to predict the impacts of climate change on GHG emissions from hydropower plants, enabling more effective environmental management within the clean energy transition.
The STSM can be found here.
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This report aims to address this knowledge gap by mapping damage data onto real-life operational data from five HPPs, covering three different machine types, to determine the influence of increased start-stop cycles on machine fatigue life. The analysis reveals that for a Francis Pump-Turbine (PT), damage including start-stop cycles is a factor of 101 higher than operation without them. For a Pelton turbine, the increase is a factor of 2. For a multistage pump, the damage ratio is in the order of 10.
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Through this Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM), research is being conducted focused on exploring how hydropower operators perceive and manage social acceptance and controversies surrounding hydropower, in particular, increasingly flexible hydropower operations. As energy systems across Europe integrate more and more variable renewable energy (VRE) sources, hydropower plays a crucial role in ensuring grid stability and energy security. However, operational adjustments linked to flexibility (i.e. intensified start–stop cycles, fluctuating discharges, and changing flow regimes, etc.) can generate local impact, public concern, and controversy. These dynamics call for renewed strategies of communication and engagement between hydropower operators, authorities, and affected communities.
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Pumped hydro storage (PHS) is a relevant flexibility option for island systems when suitable topographical and technical conditions are available. Compared with short-duration storage technologies, PHS can provide larger energy capacity and longer-duration balancing, which may be valuable for shifting renewable electricity from surplus periods to deficit periods. However, the planning value of PHS depends strongly on system context. A larger storage reservoir can reduce curtailment and improve renewable utilisation, but it also increases investment cost and may remain underutilised if renewable surplus, pumping power, or demand timing do not allow frequent cycling. Therefore, PHS sizing should be evaluated together with wind and PV capacity configuration, rather than treated as an independent infrastructure parameter.
The STSM can be found here.