Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ETIP Hydropower (ETIP Hydropower Europe)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-09-01 al 2024-02-29
Hydropower is back again on the political agenda not only in Europe but in many regions and countries worldwide. The reason in Europe is without doubt 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 in the coming winters across Europe. Storage and pumped-storage hydropower will be the most vital source of flexible electricity supply to avoid blackouts in near future under critical situations in Europe. 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) consolidates the strong network of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Forum into a sustainable association 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.
In working towards these specific objectives ETIP HYDROPOWER is also answering the following questions:
• Which research and innovation projects are the most important in order that hydropower can fulfil the role of a catalyst in the energy transition?
• Which strategic actions have to be taken when, in order that hydropower can fulfil the role of a catalyst in the energy transition?
• How public awareness can be increased for hydropower as an important catalyst in the transition to a clean energy system focussing to a zero-emissions target?
• How can hydropower projects be carried out to create win-win situations with other renewables and other services contributing to the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations?
• What form of sustainable associate organisation representing the hydropower sector is required to ensure the vital role of hydropower in the energy transition?
ETIP HYDROPOWER project (2022-2025) consolidates the strong network of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Forum into a sustainable association 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.
In working towards these specific objectives ETIP HYDROPOWER is also answering the following questions:
• Which research and innovation projects are the most important in order that hydropower can fulfil the role of a catalyst in the energy transition?
• Which strategic actions have to be taken when, in order that hydropower can fulfil the role of a catalyst in the energy transition?
• How public awareness can be increased for hydropower as an important catalyst in the transition to a clean energy system focussing to a zero-emissions target?
• How can hydropower projects be carried out to create win-win situations with other renewables and other services contributing to the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations?
• What form of sustainable associate organisation representing the hydropower sector is required to ensure the vital role of hydropower in the energy transition?
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.
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 towards 900 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, Netherland and Switzerland, hydropower owner and consultant in Austria and France as well as EURELECTRIC and DG JRC. After a successful 1st Brussels Hydropower Day in 2023, in the 2nd edition (April 16, 2024) the European Hydropower Alliance is serving as co-organizer to the event.
As soon as ETIP HYDROPOWER has received its formal recognition as ETIP closer contacts will be enhanced with SET Plan as defined in the governance structure. Collaboration with other ETIP’s has already started intensively within the ETIP’s Forum resulting in several cooperative actions.
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 towards 900 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, Netherland and Switzerland, hydropower owner and consultant in Austria and France as well as EURELECTRIC and DG JRC. After a successful 1st Brussels Hydropower Day in 2023, in the 2nd edition (April 16, 2024) the European Hydropower Alliance is serving as co-organizer to the event.
As soon as ETIP HYDROPOWER has received its formal recognition as ETIP closer contacts will be enhanced with SET Plan as defined in the governance structure. Collaboration with other ETIP’s has already started intensively within the ETIP’s Forum resulting in several cooperative actions.