ETIP HYDROPOWER is pleased to announce the launch of the Virtual Postcard Summer Edition, inviting all stakeholders to participate in a photography initiative celebrating the synergy between hydropower facilities and their natural environments. This edition focuses on capturing the beauty, power, and sustainability of hydropower as it integrates seamlessly with the landscapes, highlighting the theme of summer.

Participants are encouraged to submit stunning images that reflect the essence of hydropower within its natural surroundings. These photographs will be used to convey summer greetings to all ETIP HYDROPOWER stakeholders and will be featured across all ETIP HYDROPOWER communication channels.

By showcasing the harmony between technology and nature, we hope to inspire greater appreciation and support for renewable energy solutions. We look forward to your contributions and to celebrating the vibrant spirit of summer through the lens of hydropower.

All entries must be received by 28 June 2024 no later than 11:59 PM CET

For more details on participation and submission guidelines, please click here

The Swiss Federal Government oversees the construction and modification of large water retaining facilities (WRFA, SR 721.101). Any changes to these facilities, including dams, reservoirs, and safety-relevant auxiliary installations, require planning approval to ensure technical safety (WRFA art. 6). This extends to modifications from appurtenant installations like floating photovoltaic platforms, heliports, wind turbines, etc. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), specifically its Dam Supervision Section (TS), is responsible for the technical safety assessment of large dams.

The SFOE is calling for expert applications to develop a directive (Part F) on the safety of water retaining facilities with appurtenant installations. This directive will outline the minimum safety recommendations needed. The working group will draft the directive in three phases:

• Structure and Criteria Development: Establish the directive's structure, identify hazards, and determine classification and monitoring criteria.
• Technical Content Drafting: Detail the technical content, including legal bases, roles, risk definitions, safety objectives, and minimum safety requirements.
• Finalization: Revise and finalize the draft for review.

Experts are sought in areas such as anchoring, dam design, floating structures, geology, instrumentation, civil engineering, meteorology, natural hazards, and risk management. The working group will include 10-15 experts and involve three face-to-face sessions, three online sessions, and eleven and a half days of work, totaling sixteen days by March 2026.

Applications, including CVs and fixed daily rates, must be submitted by June 30, 2024, to Thomas Menouillard at the SFOE.

Contact:

Thomas Menouillard

Swiss Federal Office of Energy, SFOE

Pulverstrasse 13, 3063 Ittigen

Email: thomas.menouillard@bfe.admin.ch

Read more about the application by clicking here

The countdown begins for one of the most anticipated events in the sustainable energy sector, the European Sustainable Energy Week #EUSEW2024 Energy Fair. Set to take place from June 11th to the 13th, the fair will open its doors at the Charlemagne building and you could find ETIP HYDROPOWER at the ground floor, stand C-24.

This year’s theme, ‘Collaborative Energy Transition for Europe’s Future,’ aims to foster discussions and collaborations that will shape a sustainable future for all. At the booth we will share the space together with organizations such as the International Hydropower Association (IHA), ETIPsFORUM, ETIPSNET, and BRIDGE, who will also be sharing insights and innovations in renewable energy.

Visitors are invited to engage with industry leaders and contribute to the dialogue on advancing clean energy solutions. 

For more information on the EUSEW 2024 Energy Fair and to participate in shaping a sustainable future:

• Visit the official website
• Connect on social media

#EUSEW2024 #CleanEnergyEU #EnergyTransition #SustainableFuture #ETIPsForum #ETIPSNET #Hydropower #BridgeH2020 #IHA #RenewableEnergy #EUInnovation #GreenTech

The "75 Most Influential People in Hydropower" list has been released by International Water Power & Dam Construction. This list recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to hydropower development, and from ETIP HYDROPOWER we want to acknowledge the work of all those featured on the list.

The list includes Denis Aelbrecht, Head of Technology at EDF Hydro Engineering Center, whose leadership roles within the Comité Français des Barrages et Réservoirs (CFBR) and as Chair of the ETIP HYDROPOWER Governing Board demonstrate his impact on the industry.

Anton J. Schleiss, with his extensive career in hydraulic engineering and dam construction, is also recognized. His role as the technical coordinator of ETIP HYDROPOWER highlights his continued involvement in the hydropower sector.

The individuals featured on this list represent the collaborative and innovative spirit that drives the hydropower industry. Their work contributes to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions and resilience.

Read the full article here

#Hydropower #Innovation #Sustainability #ETIPHYDROPOWER #HydropowerExcellence

ETIP HYDROPOWER actively engaged at the recent #EUGreenWeek Conference. As a key figure in the hydropower sector and a proud contributor to the #WaterWiseEU campaign, we recognize the critical role hydropower can play in tackling pressing water challenges like floods and water scarcity. From the session "Water resilient EU – Key challenges, definition and vision", we could highlight the following key takeaways:

• A call for unified action: Maroš Šefčovič emphasized the need for joint efforts and broader stakeholder dialogue to achieve water resilience by 2050.
• Addressing water extremes: Lidia Brito highlighted the dual threats of water scarcity and excess, urging immediate action to prioritize water for environmental and human well-being.
• Strengthening legal frameworks: Alain Maron stressed the importance of robust legal frameworks across Europe to ensure equitable water distribution and water cycle restoration.
• Sharing knowledge and best practices: Anikó Raisz underlined the significance of inter-sectoral collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Water for a competitive future: Pietro Francesco De Lotto discussed the centrality of water for industrial competitiveness and advocated for a renewed European water policy agenda.

ETIP HYDROPOWER, through our commitment to innovation and deep industry knowledge, is positioned to contribute significantly to more effective water resource management, flood mitigation, and ensuring a stable water supply for all.

Our focus areas include linked to the Brussels Conference 2024 are the followings:

1. Enhancing and disseminating research and innovation in hydropower.
2. Aligning industry strategies with EU climate and energy policies.
3. Collaborating with stakeholders to foster understanding and overcome innovation barriers.

By working together, we can build a water-resilient Europe. Let's keep innovating and collaborating for a sustainable future!

#ETIPHydropower #Hydropower #WaterResilience #Sustainability #Innovation #ClimateAction #EUGreenWeek #WaterWiseEU

ETIP HYDROPOWER hosted a webinar, "Boosting Hydropower with Good Practices for Research," showcasing advancements in the hydropower field. The event brought together key players and highlighted promising initiatives leveraging digital solutions to enhance hydropower efficiency and sustainability.

Emanuele Quaranta from the European Commission provided an overview of current hydropower research activities, mentioning that the European Union allocates an average of €10 million annually to EU-based hydropower projects. Therefore, Anton Schleiss emphasized ETIP HYDROPOWER's role in unifying the sector and presenting a single voice on key issues.

The webinar featured presentations from three key projects focused on digitalization within the hydropower sector:

• D-HYDROFLEX: Presented by Katerina Drivakou, this project aims to improve sustainability performance and flexibility of hydropower assets using IoT, digital twin technologies, AI-based techniques, and novel sensor-based modeling. The project also focuses on reducing the impact on fish migratory species and enhancing cybersecurity.
• Di-Hydro: Presented by Alkiviadis Tromaras, this project focuses on the digitalization of operations and maintenance for hydropower plants. It includes real-time system management, remote monitoring, AI-based techniques, and advanced sensors to improve efficiency and sustainability.
• iAMP-Hydro: Presented by Aonghus McNabola, this project co-develops and validates novel condition monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions, advanced sensors for biodiversity monitoring, and enhanced weather and flow forecasting models. It aims to improve the ecological and socio-economic sustainability of existing plants.

These initiatives represent significant steps forward in unlocking hydropower's full potential as a clean and reliable renewable energy source for the EU. By harnessing digital technologies, these projects aim to propel efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and pave the way for a sustainable energy future for Europe.

Thank you to our amazing community and stay updated with more exciting developments coming soon!

For more information: 

Speaker slides: ETIP HYDROPOWER, Emanuele Quaranta (EC), Katerina Drivakou, Alkiviadis Tromaras, Aonghus McNabola

Webinar recording here

#Hydropower #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #Innovation #CleanEnergy #GreenTech #ClimateAction #EUFunding #EnergyTransition #WaterPower

In an effort to highlight the vital role of dams and reservoirs in Europe's economic, social, and environmental landscape, the ICOLD European Club has inaugurated the inaugural "Dam Day - Reservoirs for Europe" celebrations. This initiative, supported by members of the ICOLD European National Committee, aims to underscore the myriad benefits of dams and reservoirs while fostering greater public understanding and appreciation.

Scheduled to take place for a period before and after May 29th, designated as the official Dam Day this year's celebrations mark the commencement of an annual tradition. Set to debut on May 29th, 2024, "Dam Day - Reservoirs for Europe" seeks to honor the significant contributions of dams and reservoirs to the sustainable development and prosperity of European nations.

The concept of "Dam Day" was conceived and championed by EurCOLD (European Club of the International Commission on Large Dams – ICOLD), following a proposal by the Italian Committee on Large Dams in June 2023. Its establishment in March 2024 reflects a collective commitment to raising public awareness about the positive impact of dams and reservoirs on social, economic, and environmental fronts.

 Get ready for the upcoming webinar featuring three newly EU-funded projects along with ETIP Hydropower next 21 May 2024 (13:30 – 15:00 CET)!

Europe has significant hydropower potential due to its diverse altitude landscape and surrounding seas. However, only a small fraction (13.8%) of the EU's net electricity generation comes from hydropower plants. This low utilization is primarily attributed to inadequate digital management, handling, and maintenance of hydropower plants compared to other energy generation methods.

In the webinar, the following projects will be presented:

Katerina DRIVAKOU (Technical Coordinator, UBITECH) will talk on behalf of D-HYDROFLEX, a project that aims to develop a toolkit for digitally renovating existing hydroelectric power plants based on sensors, digital twins, AI algorithms, hybridization modelling (power-to-hydrogen), cloud-edge computing, and image processing. Validation will take place in 7 hydro plants across Europe, addressing challenges posed by the European Green Deal and the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030.

Alkiviadis TROMARAS (Project Coordinator, CERTH) will represent Di-Hydro an initiative that aims to digitize hydropower plants by developing smart devices and data acquisition techniques. Digital twins will facilitate real-time data exchange, enabling optimal coordination of power generation considering societal, weather, water flow, environmental, and biodiversity data.

Aonghus MCNABOLA (Project Coordinator, Trinity College Dublin) will speak for iAMP-Hydro, a project that focuses on developing digital solutions to address the evolving needs of the EU hydropower sector. With a significant portion of hydro generation assets slated for potential upgrades by 2030, the project aligns closely with energy sustainability and digital transformation imperatives. By harnessing the collective capabilities of diverse partners, iAMP-Hydro seeks to unlock pathways for optimizing asset performance, minimizing environmental impact, and fostering socio-economic development in communities served by hydropower facilities.

In addition, we will count on the presence of Emanuele Quaranta who will provide the audience with an overview about research for hydropower on behalf of the European Commission. Anton Schleiss, as technical coordinator, will represent ETIP HYDROPOWER during the session.

• • Register now to secure your spot at the ETIP Hydropower webinar on 21 May 2024: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6616868010758880343
  • More information and agenda: https://etip-hydropower.eu/events/etip-hydropower-and-new-hydropower-horizon-projects/