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.
