On 25th March 2020, HYDROPOWER EUROPE invited experts from the hydropower industry to participate in the Second Expert Panel Consultation to define a common Research and innovation Agenda and Strategic Industry Roadmap.

 

Press release

30th March 2020

 

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More than 30 experts joined an online workshop from roundtable home offices providing a valuable input on the evaluation of the first drafts of the Research and Innovation Agenda (RIA) and Strategic Industry Roadmap (SIR). Prior to the online workshop, the experts had access to the draft documents and were invited to provide with their written comments.

 

On the one hand, the goal of the RIA is to provide recommendations on the R&I priorities for hydro to the EU institutions and national authorities, in order to contribute shaping public spending for R&I. The document will also provide a useful reference to the entire hydropower community.

 

On the other hand, the goal of the SIR is to understand why communities, i.e. stakeholder, accept/reject hydropower projects, to promote the best and innovative practices in hydropower development and formulate recommendations (both to public authorities and private stakeholders) on how hydropower can contribute to the successful energy system transition, preserve the environment and increase societal resilience. SIR recognizes the overarching societal needs and trends, reflected or based on strategic European energy policy & ambition.

 

Altogether 11 topics were commented on:

Session 1: Barriers to large scale deployment of all sizes of hydropower

Session 2: Hydropower for a better society

Session 3: Continual improvement of the protection of environment

Session 4: Funding Hydropower Research and deployment

Session 5: Increasing Flexibility

Session 6: Optimisation of operations and maintenance

Session 7: Resilience of electromechanical equipment, construction and material technology

Session 8: Resilience of Infrastructures

Session 9: Developing new emerging concepts

Session 10: Environmental-friendly solutions

Session 11: Mitigating impact of global warming

 

Due to a current outbreak of COVID 19, the initial plan to organize a 2-day face to face workshop in Brussels was cancelled. Thus, HYDROPOWER EUROPE management decided to arrange an online session with roundtable home offices inviting the experts to contribute to the discussion.

 

The aim of Horizon2020 project, HYDROPOWER EUROPE, is to provide a focal point for reviewing and developing hydropower in Europe, and subsequently European hydropower in the wider world.

 

The HYDROPOWER EUROPE consortium comprises 8 partners: ICOLD: International Commission on Large Dams (coordinator); EASE: European Association for Storage of Energy; EREF: European Renewable Energies Federation; EUREC: Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres;  IHA: International Hydropower Association; SAMUI: Samui France sarl; VGB: VGB PowerTech e.V.; Zabala Innovation Consulting (Zabala Brussels).

HYDROPOWER EUROPE communication

E  • dprsancova@zabala.eu

T  • +32 2 513 81 22

W• hydropower-europe.eu

With climate change, flood protection provided by dams will be ever more important.

 

Prague (July 5 2017)

 

Climate change is impacting the variability of water resources with more severe and frequent droughts and/or more flood. To lessen the consequences of those events, Dams and Reservoirs are the most efficient solution. That is adaptation. For example, Dams are an essential tool for protecting the populations against the disastrous floods, like those affecting the Czech Republic in 2002 and 2013 with terrible consequences.

 

Climate change also makes urgent the need to develop clean (carbon-free) energies to meet growing needs for power. Fortunately, solar and wind energies are becoming competitive and will be largely developed, provided there is enough energy storage to compensate for their intermittence. The only solution available today for massive storage at a reasonable price is to use reservoirs associated with pumped power stations. Hydropower is also a clean energy in itself. That is mitigation.

 

The services provided by dams (irrigation, hydropower production, water storage, flood protection, leisure…) are equally important for developed and developing countries. In Prague General Assembly, ICOLD will welcome three new countries in its family: Angola, Afghanistan and Bhutan. Thus reaching the mark of 100 country members.

 

ICOLD is working hard to disseminate knowledge through the work of its technical committees, the Science Congresses and Symposiums it organizes. Exemplary of this is the Symposium organized by the Czech National Committee on Large Dams today, on “knowledge-base dam engineering”.

 

 

You will find photos of the 85 Annual Meeting on Social Medias:

 

https://www.facebook.com/icoldcigb

https://www.instagram.com/icoldcigb/

 

 

Tags : Presse - Press