Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ETIP Hydropower (ETIP Hydropower Europe)
Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-12-31
Hydropower is back again on the political agenda not only in Europe but in many regions and countries worldwide. The reason in Europe is the energy crises triggered by the war in Ukraine since 2022 which painfully revealed the vital role of reliable and at any time dispatchable hydropower to help ensure a safe supply of electricity mainly in the critical winter periods with “Dunkelflaute” across Europe. Storage and pumped-storage hydropower will be the most vital source of flexible electricity supply to avoid blackouts in near future under such critical situations. Furthermore, hydropower can and must play the vital role of a catalyst and enabler in the transition to a clean and safe energy system not only in Europe but also worldwide. New multi-purpose storage schemes and pumped-storage powerplants will be vital in future for a safe, independent and renewable electricity supply besides other services such as flood and drought protection to mitigate climate change effects. Nevertheless, to tackle environmental, societal, technological and market challenges, the hydropower sector needs to find novel approaches to future development in accordance with environmental and social demand.
ETIP HYDROPOWER project (2022-2025) consolidated the strong network of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Forum and helps to unify the voices of hydropower in Europe. ETIP HYDROPOWER facilitates, enhances and disseminates the Research and Innovation Agenda (RIA) and the Strategic Industry Roadmap (SIR) (drafted under the HYDROPOWER EUROPE project) taking into consideration the future needs of the sector and the R&I targets and the emerging policy priorities. Furthermore, besides unifying the voices of hydropower, ETIP HYDROPOWER further aligns and coordinates the industry RIA and SIR strategies to provide consensus-based strategic advice to the SET Plan (European Strategic Energy Technology Plan) covering analysis of market opportunities and research and development funding needs, biodiversity protection and ecological continuity. Another goal is, in one with Europe and the latest EU climate and energy related policies, deepening the understanding of innovation barriers and the exploitation of research results. This helps to ensure that hydropower can play the vital role of a catalyst in the transition to a clean energy system and the achievement of climate neutrality by mid-century.
ETIP HYDROPOWER project (2022-2025) consolidated the strong network of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Forum and helps to unify the voices of hydropower in Europe. ETIP HYDROPOWER facilitates, enhances and disseminates the Research and Innovation Agenda (RIA) and the Strategic Industry Roadmap (SIR) (drafted under the HYDROPOWER EUROPE project) taking into consideration the future needs of the sector and the R&I targets and the emerging policy priorities. Furthermore, besides unifying the voices of hydropower, ETIP HYDROPOWER further aligns and coordinates the industry RIA and SIR strategies to provide consensus-based strategic advice to the SET Plan (European Strategic Energy Technology Plan) covering analysis of market opportunities and research and development funding needs, biodiversity protection and ecological continuity. Another goal is, in one with Europe and the latest EU climate and energy related policies, deepening the understanding of innovation barriers and the exploitation of research results. This helps to ensure that hydropower can play the vital role of a catalyst in the transition to a clean energy system and the achievement of climate neutrality by mid-century.
The ETIP HYDROPOWER has become a recognised interlocutor for the European Commission, Member States and Associated Countries about the hydropower sector specific R&I having working relationships with the relevant national/regional/EU-level platforms to ensure synergies between EU, national and regional activities. ETIP HYDROPOWER addresses the hydropower sector challenges with several working groups identified and launched based on consultation with the hydropower sector willing to participate with the sustainable associate organization beyond the ETIP lifetime. A business plan has been prepared which defines potential pathways towards a sustainable ETIP HYDRO and a basis for funding negotiations with the sector.
As illustrated in the attached Figure by the anchor symbol the ETIP HYDROPOWER can unify and magnify the voice of hydropower to key stakeholders such as the European Commission and other EU institutions. It does not replace existing initiatives; rather it links them, allowing for presentation of key issues with one voice when appropriate. The job of the ETIP HYDROPOWER is to manage the linking and unified messaging process (arrows in brown). Existing initiatives continue with their own programmes and communications as before as shown in the Figure (blue dotted arrows).
ETIP HYDROPOWER was successful to increase its strong network in its own sector and reaching out more than 1000 stakeholders. ETIP HYDROPOWER was successful to gather highly recognized representatives from the hydropower sector in its Governing Board (GB) and Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The GB comprises personalities from the hydropower industry and technology sector; operators & owners of large hydropower & pumped storage plants; independent owners of small hydropower plants (<10MW); designers, planners, project developers; finance, business & insurance; research, innovation & development as well as environment & civil society. The SAB comprises large research centres in Norway, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland, hydropower owner and consultant in Austria and France as well as EURELECTRIC, EERA and DG JRC. From 2023 to 2025 three successful Brussels Hydropower Days were organized involving other organizations from the hydropower sector.
The figure provides a generic representation of the mission and activities of ETIP HYDROPOWER at a strategic level within the hydropower sector. As illustrated by the anchor symbol the ETIP HYDROPOWER can unify and magnify the voice of hydropower to key stakeholders such as the European Commission and other EU institutions. It does not replace existing initiatives; rather it links them, allowing for the presentation of key issues with one voice when appropriate.
Since early summer 2024 four working groups have been active on the topics: 1) Hydropower role for flexibility & storage, 2) Hydropower and biodiversity, 3) Hydropower and climate change, 4) Promotion, dissemination and uptake of European R&I projects. The first three working groups released in 2025 5 white papers accompanied with three videos intended to provide European and national decision-makers with background information on key issues that are and will be discussed in pending and upcoming EU legislation processes relevant to hydropower development. The fourth working group has regularly organized, until 2025 in total 5 Webinars “Boosting Hydropower: best practices for re-search” where past and current European R&I projects are discussed. For tracking R&I projects in Europe the HERI platform has been developed which provides the hydropower industry with information regarding past, present and future R&I actions and opportunities.
In view of formal recognition, ETIP HYDROPOWER has already close contacts with SET Plan through an active participation in the four cross-sectorial task forces. Collaboration with other ETIP’s has become intensively within the ETIP’s Forum resulting in several cooperative actions as common boots in exhibitions of conferences.
As illustrated in the attached Figure by the anchor symbol the ETIP HYDROPOWER can unify and magnify the voice of hydropower to key stakeholders such as the European Commission and other EU institutions. It does not replace existing initiatives; rather it links them, allowing for presentation of key issues with one voice when appropriate. The job of the ETIP HYDROPOWER is to manage the linking and unified messaging process (arrows in brown). Existing initiatives continue with their own programmes and communications as before as shown in the Figure (blue dotted arrows).
ETIP HYDROPOWER was successful to increase its strong network in its own sector and reaching out more than 1000 stakeholders. ETIP HYDROPOWER was successful to gather highly recognized representatives from the hydropower sector in its Governing Board (GB) and Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The GB comprises personalities from the hydropower industry and technology sector; operators & owners of large hydropower & pumped storage plants; independent owners of small hydropower plants (<10MW); designers, planners, project developers; finance, business & insurance; research, innovation & development as well as environment & civil society. The SAB comprises large research centres in Norway, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland, hydropower owner and consultant in Austria and France as well as EURELECTRIC, EERA and DG JRC. From 2023 to 2025 three successful Brussels Hydropower Days were organized involving other organizations from the hydropower sector.
The figure provides a generic representation of the mission and activities of ETIP HYDROPOWER at a strategic level within the hydropower sector. As illustrated by the anchor symbol the ETIP HYDROPOWER can unify and magnify the voice of hydropower to key stakeholders such as the European Commission and other EU institutions. It does not replace existing initiatives; rather it links them, allowing for the presentation of key issues with one voice when appropriate.
Since early summer 2024 four working groups have been active on the topics: 1) Hydropower role for flexibility & storage, 2) Hydropower and biodiversity, 3) Hydropower and climate change, 4) Promotion, dissemination and uptake of European R&I projects. The first three working groups released in 2025 5 white papers accompanied with three videos intended to provide European and national decision-makers with background information on key issues that are and will be discussed in pending and upcoming EU legislation processes relevant to hydropower development. The fourth working group has regularly organized, until 2025 in total 5 Webinars “Boosting Hydropower: best practices for re-search” where past and current European R&I projects are discussed. For tracking R&I projects in Europe the HERI platform has been developed which provides the hydropower industry with information regarding past, present and future R&I actions and opportunities.
In view of formal recognition, ETIP HYDROPOWER has already close contacts with SET Plan through an active participation in the four cross-sectorial task forces. Collaboration with other ETIP’s has become intensively within the ETIP’s Forum resulting in several cooperative actions as common boots in exhibitions of conferences.