4th Training School

The sessions provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable hydropower, exploring key environmental and social dimensions as well as stakeholder perspectives and governance challenges. Key presentations and activities included:

Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HS Standard): Jian-hua Meng (HTWG Hochschule Konstanz) and João Costa (Hydropower Sustainability Alliance) led participants through the principles and application of the HS Standard. Attendees took on the roles of different stakeholders—ranging from developers to environmental NGOs—in a simulation exercise designed to reflect real-world decision-making.

Working Group Presentations: Representatives from the five COST Action CA21104 Working Groups shared their latest research and activities:

• WG1: Charles Rougé

• WG2: Dogan Gezer

• WG3: Marie-Pierre Gosselin, PhD

• WG4: Egidijus Kasiulis

• WG5: Barbara Fischer-Aupperle

These sessions helped participants situate hydropower sustainability within broader European research and policy frameworks.

Field Visit to Vattenfall’s R&D Center in Älvkarleby
A key part of the Training School was a site visit to the Vattenfall Research & Development Center in Älvkarleby, a leading European hub for hydropower innovation. Located along the Dalälven River, the center showcased:

• The Laxelerator: A cutting-edge simulation facility for studying fish migration, particularly salmon and eel, and developing fish-friendly infrastructure such as ladders and bypass channels, aligned with the EU Water Framework Directive.

• The Digital Inspection Lab: An overview of Vattenfall’s latest digital technologies for infrastructure monitoring, efficiency, and sustainability.

Participants used their on-site experience to carry out stakeholder-based sustainability assessments of the Älvkarleby facility. Teams worked collaboratively to reflect on the trade-offs and challenges in balancing energy generation with environmental and community concerns.

Guest Speakers and Final Reflections

The Training School featured expert facilitators including João Costa, Executive Director of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, and Jian-hua Meng, member of the Hydropower Sustainability Council’s Governance Committee. Their guidance helped frame hydropower sustainability within both technical and policy dimensions, emphasizing the role of certification systems in shaping the sector’s future.

The four-day event concluded with participant presentations and a certificate ceremony. The feedback underscored the value of interdisciplinary exchange, hands-on learning, and the creation of a new network of young professionals dedicated to advancing sustainable hydropower across Europe.

A warm thank you to our Swedish hosts—Prof. Urban Lundin (Uppsala University) and Mats Billstein (Vattenfall)—as well as to our organising and training 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.