Funded by the European Union, ReHydro aims to demonstrate how European hydropower can be refurbished and modernized to play a leading role in the future energy system, while adhering to sustainability requirements and societal needs in the context of climate change.

The project began with its official Kick-off meeting in Brussels in May 2024 and is expected to run until April 2028, supported by a total of 22 partners from 7 European countries. Within the framework of the project, several solutions such as a new, fish-friendly turbine design and monitoring tools will be tested on five main demonstration sites. Four more sites will showcase specific project activities. ReHydro’s exploitable results are expected to create 800 – 1,150 new jobs in the manufacturing industry, leading to an increase of 275 mil. Euros in the global market.

Since its official start, ReHydro has established its main communication platforms: The official LinkedIn account, which serves as the primary space to share progress as it happens and inform about upcoming events, and the official ReHydro website, where interested parties are able to find all information about the project’s background as well as research publications and articles. In addition, the ReHydro newsletter provides focused information on the project’s most important advancements.

One of these advancements was the start of data collection in Norway in September. The rivers Brattlandsdalsåi and Roalkvamsåi are part of the larger refurbishment projects, and thus it is vital to monitor their water temperature, flow, and habitat conditions to ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly planning. Innovative technologies such as eDNA to map biodiversity are also being used.

ReHydro’s next big step is the roll-out of an external modernization survey in early 2025, which pertains directly to the realization of one of the project’s deliverables and goals. This survey will gather additional data on the current modernization efforts of European hydropower to deepen understanding of the sector’s needs.

Author: ReHydro project