Working Group Outcomes
This page showcases best practices and outputs from each of the Working Groups within PEN@Hydropower
WG1
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As part of the activities within our Working Groups, a roundtable discussion was held at the Reykjavik University, moderated by Prof. Elena Vagnoni from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) to discuss the role of hydropower in providing #flexibility in current and future power systems and to explore the potential of #pumpedstorage in the European hydropower landscape.
Alberto Santolin highlighted Italy's 53 GWh pumped storage capacity, emphasizing the creation of a water/energy "smart grid" for energy and environmental management.Prof. Ioannis Anagnostopoulos stressed the need for more hydropower plants and optimal energy storage, while Prof. Juan Ignacio Pérez-Díaz outlined Spain's 25 planned pumped-storage projects in various permitting phases.
Presentations of the event can be found here
Video of the event can be found here
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This webinar explored the evolving role of storage capacity in hydropower plants. Key topics included: digitalization in Southern European hydropower by Prof. Aonghus McNabola (Trinity College Dublin), perspectives on enhancing energy storage and ramping rates by Prof. Fabrizio Sossan (HES-SO), and the environmental implications of increased storage capacity presented by Prof. John Gallagher (Trinity College Dublin). The session concluded with a discussion on future perspectives and a roadmap for advancing hydropower storage.
Presentation can be found here -
This webinar highlighted advancements and challenges in pumped-storage hydropower. Dr. Emanuele Quaranta presented on the current state and sustainable future of water and energy storage in the EU. Prof. Helena Ramos discussed the power potential of hybrid pumped hydropower at different scales, while Prof. Armando Carravetta explored hydropower's role in peripheral energy storage. Dr. Giacomo Zanetti examined resilient reversible pump-turbines, focusing on hydrodynamic instabilities related to runner geometry. Finally, Elena Vagnoni provided insights into flexible pumped-storage solutions from the XFLEX HYDRO and STORE projects.
Presentation can be found here
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The PEN@Hydropower event, held both in Vienna and online, brought together hydropower experts to discuss critical insights into the flexibility of hydraulic machines and its impact on machinery aging, grid stability, and hydropower reliability. The hybrid event addressed the pressing challenges and opportunities for the hydropower industry in adapting to modern energy demands.
More information can be found here.
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Item description
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The Swiss Energy Strategy 2050 aims for a significant increase in renewable energy, making grid regulation services and flexible hydropower operations increasingly critical. However, this shift introduces major challenges: intensified wear on hydropower components, limited market participation due to insufficient data, and greater water variability from climate change. These pressures demand a new, system-wide approach to hydropower planning and operations.
One key issue is the growing number of start-up sequences in hydroelectric units, which impose dynamic stresses that accelerate mechanical degradation and cause environmental effects like hydro-peaking. Current decision-making tools are inadequate to address these impacts.
To tackle this, the proposed research project will develop a digital twin of hydroelectric units, focusing on modeling start-up behavior, fluid-structure interactions, and associated environmental consequences. It will integrate partial simulation models using co-simulation, linking real-world data with virtual representations to create a robust decision-support system.
This effort is supported by the PEN@HYDROPOWER COST Action network, which includes over 250 members from 34 European countries, providing access to a broad dataset and research infrastructure.
More information can be found here
WG2
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The relationship between water and energy production was at the forefront of discussions during a comprehensive workshop held at Vienna University of Technology where participants from all corners of Europe convened to explore these critical issues.
More information on the workshop can be found here
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On October 10th, the School of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona (ETSEIB) was host to a vibrant round table event organized by COST Action CA21104 PEN@Hydropower, under Working Group 2, titled "Technology Innovations & Digitalisation in Hydropower." The session brought together experts in sustainable hydropower to discuss the potential of hidden hydropower solutions in water networks and distribution systems. With an audience spanning industry, academia, and policy, both in-person and online, the discussions emphasized innovative ways to tap into underutilized hydropower resources for a more resilient and renewable energy future.
Presentations can be found here
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As water and energy systems become increasingly interlinked, the roundtable focused on innovative solutions that drive sustainability and resilience across sectors. Topics included advancements in hydropower applications, energy recovery technologies, and drinking water systems. The discussion emphasised the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and how it can unlock new opportunities for innovation.
Presentations here.
Webinar recording here.
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As Europe accelerates its clean energy transition, digitalisation is emerging as a key enabler of smarter, more efficient hydropower systems. From predictive maintenance to advanced automation, digital technologies are reshaping how hydropower assets are operated, monitored, and optimised.
Presentation can be found here:
Webinar recording can be found here:
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ERASMUS+ project EVERYONE addresses the increasing demand for renewable energy expertise by creating a network of research institutions committed to equipping young people with up-to-date, comprehensive knowledge on renewable energy harvesting methods. The initiative prioritizes international collaboration and supports student mobility and industry partnerships, which are crucial for preparing young engineers to excel in the renewable energy sector throughout Europe.
More information can be found here
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Pump-as-turbine (PaT) is a favorable option in terms of investment costs
for small hydropower plants. It is frequently used for pressure energy
recovery in water distribution networks or the process industry. Proposed project aims at building strategies for the digitalisation of PaT in its design and operation by employing predictive maintenance approaches, computational fluid dynamics, and digital twin.The presented project has a strong connection between almost all
priorities of the EU and the CZ in the field of energy and the environment.
It will be an assessment and definition of current barriers to digitization
in the water energy sector, identification and classification of local environmental impacts. The information will be linked to education and research in collaboration with the younger generation.Financed by the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic.
WG3
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Link here
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The recent Working Group 3 (WG3) thematic workshop on GHG emissions, organized by Open Hydro under the PEN@Hydropower project, brought together researchers from 13 countries to London to focus on understanding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from hydropower reservoirs. With a diverse group of participants, including many young researchers and women, the workshop aimed to address a topic critical to hydropower’s role in the clean energy transition and the EU's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
More information can be found here.
Abstract submitted to EGU can be found here.
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Hydropower must adapt to the realities of climate change, prompting global research efforts to develop strategies that will keep turbines running despite shifting weather patterns.
The round table demonstrated how the sector is responding to new climate data, the technological and policy innovations emerging, and the opportunities for transformation that lie ahead.
Presentation can be found here.
Webinar recording can be found here.
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This paper critically analyzes existing methodologies for estimating hydropower-related GHG emissions, including direct field measurements, empirical and machine learning (ML) models, and simplified emission factors. These methods vary in their strengths, limitations, and uncertainties, with emissions being highly site-specific and influenced by climatic conditions, reservoir characteristics, water quality, and operational practices.
Outcomes and abstract can be found here.
WG4
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During the WG4 regular meetings five presenters from the Eastern Europe introduced the hydropower status in their countries, development opportunities, policy measures and main barriers and enablers for hydropower development. Poland saw the 87% increase in small hydropower capacity during the period of 2006-2021, but still the utilization of hydropower potential in the country is one of the lowest in Europe – 17%. In Czechia, where Viktor Kaplan invented his turbine in 1912, hydropower development is limited by geographical and historical reasons. Still, hydropower share in produced electricity amongst all renewables in approx. 25%. Romania is successfully phasing out fossil fuel power plants and is planning strategic investments into hydropower projects. In Bulgaria hydropower is the third source of electricity in the country, but further development is limited by number of different factors. Moldova government support hydropower development in the country, but hydropower can fall behind solar and wind due to the fact that the equipment of these two sources are cheaper to import and that there is limited technical expertise in hydropower in the country with possible locations for development. You can find the selected presentations from the Eastern Europe here:
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During the WG4 regular meeting four presenters from the Northern Europe introduced hydropower status in their countries, development opportunities, policy measures and main barriers and enablers for hydropower development. The United Kingdom has been a pioneer in hydropower development and today has a total hydropower installed capacity of over 4,700 MW, including over 2,800 MW of pumped storage. Norway has 40% of hydropower storage in Europe. Despite increase in environmental requirements Norway is still among the fastest developers of hydropower in Europe, although now more limited to small hydropower. Latvia has one of the highest shares in total electricity generation from hydropower (52.4%) in Europe without having any pumped storage hydropower plant. In Lithuania last hydropower potential was added in 2017 despite the amendment of the Water Law that lifted the ban on some of the previously protected rivers. You can find the selected presentations from the Northern Europe here.
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During the WG4 regular meetings ten presenters from the Southern Europe introduced the hydropower status in their countries, development opportunities, policy measures and main barriers and enablers for hydropower development. Portugal during the period 2007-2023 added 3.4 GW (increase of 70%) of installed hydropower capacity. In Italy the share of hydropower in total electricity generation is 16.5%. It is a country that during the 2015-2022 period received highest funding from the Horizon program for the projects related to hydropower. In Croatia Jaruga hydropower plant is one of the oldest hydropower plant still operating to this day – built in 1895. Today hydropower in Croatia generates up to 50% of consumed electricity. Governmental Energy strategies propose to increase the capacity with the perspective till 2050. On average one third of electricity generated in Slovenia comes from hydropower. Country has exceptional examples, such as Brežice HPP, of environmental good practise in construction of hydropower plants. There are 13 hydropower plants with total capacity of 101 MW in Kosovo. The country is planning the development of renewable energy sources as fossil fuel power plants now constitute up to 85% of total energy installations. Approximately 40% of economically exploitable hydropower potential has been developed in Greece. Further development is limited due to liberalization of the electricity market and environmental impact with small hydropower plants perceived as more suitable solution. The share of hydropower in total electricity production in North Macedonia is 24.3%. According to renewable energy development scenarios, hydropower will have the highest share amongst other renewable energy sources in the country till 2040 and beyond. In Serbia hydropower is the second largest electricity producer in the country. It still has approx. 7 TWh of remaining technical potential, but limitation is that significant amount of resources is located on the border rivers. The cascade, built in Albania on the Drin River, is the largest in the Balkans, by installed capacity, as well as by the size of the hydropower plants. The country reached utilisation of approx. 50 % of country hydro potential with new projects in the pipeline. In Bosnia and Herzegovina 35% of electricity is produced by hydropower plants. New projects are facing administrative challenges related to environmental protection. You can find the selected presentations from the Southern Europe here.
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During the WG4 regular meetings two presenters from the Western Europe introduced the hydropower status in their countries, development opportunities, policy measures and main barriers and enablers for hydropower development. In Austria electricity production is based mainly on hydropower among other renewables (73%). Reduction from a dependency on natural gas from Russia is in progress and is boosted by the installation of new renewables, mainly wind and solar. Storage is lacking behind and mainly done by pumped storage power plants. In Switzerland hydropower provide 64% of power capacity and roughly 58% of generation. In 2017, more than 25 projects were under construction in Switzerland with a total capacity of approx. 1000 MW. One of the main challenges in the country is that, between 2020 and 2050, 23 TWh of hydropower generation (more than 65%) will get to the end of its hydraulic concession. Hydropower plant’s owners face a concession renewal process that will involve new requirements for flexibility and environmental mitigation measures. You can find the presentations from the Western Europe here:
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On September 23, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium, PEN@Hydropower hosted a key conference addressing the skills shortage in the hydropower sector. Industry leaders, academics, and policymakers discussed the need for stronger collaboration between universities, industry, and governments to attract new talent and prepare students for the evolving renewable energy landscape.
Report can be found here.
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Sustainability assessment has recently become an important issue for policymakers and decision-makers, driven by the necessity to balance environmental, economic, and social policies. Consequently, understanding social factors in general—and social acceptance in particular—is essential for the successful implementation of renewable technologies, the development of effective energy and environmental policies, and facilitating a smooth energy transition. Presenter prof. dr. Ramazan Sari from DTU focused on the social acceptance in policy development to help pave the way for the smoother implementation of technologies and policies.
Presentation can be found here
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Poland’s hydropower sector has faced significant challenges due to extreme weather events and the increasing unpredictability of water resources. From severe flood events to prolonged droughts, these conditions have underscored the vulnerability of traditional hydropower infrastructures and highlighted the need for robust risk management strategies. Analysing historical meteorological and hydrological data is crucial for understanding past extremes, predicting future trends, and optimizing strategies to safeguard energy production. Presenter was dr inż. Marcin Wdowikowski from Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
Presentation can be found here.
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This roundtable explored the future role of hydropower in hybrid renewable energy systems. The speakers presented their latest research and practical experiences on integrating hydropower with other renewables, including marine energy. The discussion will focus on innovations, life cycle perspectives, and lessons learned from different regions, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of building flexible, sustainable energy systems.
Link to the recording here.
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Meeting the definition of the economic potential of hydropower as "the part of the technical potential that can or has been developed at competitive costs’’.
The main factor is innovation activities, as well as digital solutions based on the new technology (the Technology Push), which are planned to improve the efficiency of the overall plant, support operations, and monitor the quality of the surrounding environment.
WG5
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During the MC meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland 14.09.2023, thematic workshop was organized, starting with Jóhanna Hlín Auðunsdóttir demonstrating local operator Landsvirkjun experience on sustainability aspects, stakeholder inclusion, environmental management, technologies, energy transition and role of hydropower. After that, MC members worked in breakout groups, facilitated by Elena Vagnoni, Lee Estrellado and Emanuele Quaranta, creating living documents about major technological innovations, Stakeholders and EU hydropower potential.
More information can be found here
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The list of critical stakeholders for hydropower was developed during the workshop of MC members, and is constantly continued: Q2
The graphical summary is available here: Stakeholer map.pdf
Knowledge exchange webinars with crucial stakeholders were organised on the following topics:
Science
Policy makers
Associations
Environmental aspects
Operators
Producers
Legal aspects (focus on transboundary dimension)
Economic aspects (focus on delayed projects)
Presentations can be found here
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On October 10th, PEN@hydropower hosted Working Group 5 (WG5) Thematic Workshop in Barcelona.
Chaired by Dr. Valbona Karapici from the University of Tirana, the workshop brought together experts and stakeholders to explore how hydropower can help reshape energy markets and drive sustainability across Europe.
Presentation can be found here.