Despite its significant contribution to energy security, hydropower plants (HPPs) 
can have negative impacts on river ecosystems. To minimise potential 
environmental and social effects, HPPs must ensure the quantity and quality of 
freshwater flows, known as environmental flows (e-flows). The SHERPA project, 
funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation 
programme under Grant Agreement No. 101172849, addresses one of the most 
pressing challenges in the modernisation of existing hydropower infrastructure: 
enabling turbines to operate efficiently under e-flow regimes. 

To that end, SHERPA is developing innovative technologies, including advanced air 
injection systems and new runner designs. A cross-cutting objective of the project 
is to identify and assess the relationship between the expected changes driven by 
these technological developments and their potential net positive impact on river 
ecosystems, through the provision of ecosystem services and associated societal 
benefits, as demonstrated through case studies. 

This webinar aims to foster discussion between the technical team working on the 
assessment of changes in ecosystem services and members of academia involved 
in related EU projects. The goal is to capture leading-edge knowledge and showcase 
SHERPA’s findings through a dedicated case study.

Link to register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/31b55e4e-3603-4b51-b672-36a6e9aed938@231cc938-899d-4588-937b-d862c0b87282