Project description
Unlocking the hidden potential in European water infrastructure
The EU-funded ETIP HYDRO 26-28 project supports the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Hydropower as the key forum where research organisations, industry, policymakers and other stakeholders collaborate to shape the future of hydropower in Europe. The project strengthens the platform’s role as an independent network, providing consensus-based strategic advice to the SET Plan and European decision-makers, while aligning hydropower research and innovation with EU climate and energy priorities. By fostering knowledge exchange and innovation, ETIP HYDRO 26-28 will advance environmentally friendly hydropower solutions, increase system flexibility and storage capacity, and promote synergies with other renewable energy sources. The project will help deliver secure, sustainable and resilient energy systems, supporting Europe’s climate neutrality ambitions and long-term energy transition goals.
Objective
Global warming is a major threat in the 21st century. The European Union (EU) is leading the fight with the European Green Deal, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. Solar and wind power are gradually replacing fossil fuels, but their variability requires effective integration into the grid. Europe must enhance storage and flexibility of supply to support this transition. Hydropower already plays a major role here, and this role must be strengthened in future. However, the sector requires significant technical and environmental innovations to contribute effectively and ensure a stable electricity supply.
ETIP HYDROPOWER 2026-2028 will foster innovation and help shape future policy direction for hydropower R&I, including hybrid use with other renewable energies. It will also support the Water-Energy-Food NEXUS, contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and aid in mitigating the effects of climate change. The key programme sub-objectives are summarised as follows:
O1: Support ETIP HYDROPOWER (the platform) by increasing its role in becoming a recognised independent stakeholder network of hydropower stakeholders across Europe.
O2: Support the SET Plan and its implementation.
O3: Provide continued consensus-based strategic advice to the SET Plan and the European Hydropower industry.
O4: Align the work of the platform with European priorities and the latest EU climate and energy policies.
O5: Further develop the sustainability plan for the transition to a self-funded organization.
Within these actions the European hydropower industry will have a particular focus on:
- new environmentally friendly, multipurpose hydropower schemes including use of hidden potential in existing infrastructure
- increased flexibility of generation with innovative solutions for mitigating environmental impacts
- increased storage from existing reservoirs
- increased flexibility of supply through PSH and innovative arrangements with existing water and other infrastructure
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy wind energy
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy hydroelectricity
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
- social sciences economics and business economics sustainable economy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2025-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1050 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.