The highly successful HYDRO 2024 conference, which took place in Graz from 18 to 20 November, brought together over 1,300 attendees from more than 70 countries and featured over 100 exhibitors in a large-scale exhibition dedicated to the hydropower sector. ETIP HYDROPOWER had the honor of delivering a presentation during the opening ceremony, titled European Technology Innovation Platform on Hydropower – Strategy, Organization, Actions & Projects.

Denis Aelbrecht (EDF), Chair of the Governing Board, began by addressing the question, Which responses to Europe’s Energy, Climate, and Biodiversity Challenges? He highlighted key statistics on hydropower’s role in Europe’s electricity mix, emphasizing the importance of hydropower for system flexibility. He also underscored hydropower’s critical role in securing and decarbonizing Europe’s electricity system. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of ETIP HYDROPOWER as an industry-driven initiative to drive Research & Innovation in the hydropower sector.

Following this, Anton Schleiss (ICOLD-EPFL), representing the ETIP HYDROPOWER Secretariat, provided a concise overview of the organization’s structure and objectives. He emphasized its pivotal role in unifying the hydropower sector in Europe, presenting a single voice on key issues. ETIP HYDROPOWER seeks to complement and enhance the work of existing groups and associations rather than duplicate their efforts. Schleiss also shared updates on ongoing initiatives, including the progress made by the platform’s four working groups.

To conclude, Atle Harby (SINTEF Energy Research, Norway), a member of the ETIP HYDROPOWER Scientific Advisory Board, presented the Horizon Europe project ReHydro – Demonstration of Sustainable Hydropower Refurbishment. He outlined the project’s specific objectives and expected outcomes, including details about the five demonstration sites located in Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, and France.