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

On 15 November 2024, WE-ACT brought together key stakeholders for a full-day workshop at the “Silk Road” conference hall in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event focused on transboundary water allocation simulation and irrigation water tariffs in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The day fostered collaboration, mutual learning, and actionable outcomes for water resource management in the Syr Darya river basin.

What WE-ACT Did

1. Transboundary Water Allocation Simulation
Using the innovative simulation tool Together We Flow, WE-ACT created an interactive environment where decision-makers from the Syr Darya basin engaged in practical exercises to explore trade-offs in water allocation. Participants balanced economic, environmental, and socio-cultural values in decision-making scenarios, gaining insights into the complexities of managing shared water resources.

• Who attended: Decision-makers, government officials, and researchers.
• Outcome: Strengthened understanding of cooperative water management, enriched perspectives on stakeholder values, and provided valuable data for ongoing research led by the University of Twente.

2. Water Tariffs Workshop
In the afternoon, discussions shifted to the current legal and institutional frameworks of irrigation water tariffs in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Participants explored how pricing affects agricultural productivity, equity, and sustainability. Comparative analysis and group discussions led to recommendations for refining water governance.

• Who attended: Policy experts, water user associations, and practitioners.
• Outcome: Clearer understanding of existing challenges, actionable recommendations for improving tariff structures, and enhanced dialogue on best practices between the two countries.

The workshop was more than just an academic exercise; it was a forum for open dialogue and shared learning. Simulation was “eye-opening” for understanding others’ perspectives, and the tariff discussions sparked meaningful debates about practical solutions for water governance.

Why It Matters

This workshop exemplifies WE-ACT’s commitment to fostering resilience and equity in water resource management.

For further information: https://weact-project.eu/building-bridges-for-water-governance-we-act-hosts-water-allocation-simulation-and-tariffs-in-central-asia-workshop/

Author: WE-ACT project

The Di-Hydro project has made 1 year, being launched in October 2023 with the goal of advancing the digital transformation of hydropower plants (HPPs). Through innovative technologies, cutting-edge sensors, and advanced digital twins, Di-Hydro aims to enhance operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and decision-making processes within the hydropower sector. As we mark the conclusion of the project’s first year, here is an overview of the significant progress.

Laying the Foundation for Digital Transformation

The team focused on gathering and analysing critical data from HPPs managed by project partners PPC, A2A, and EPS. This included characteristic of the hydropower plants participating in the pilot activities, weather data, flow measurements, and biodiversity metrics.

Key results in Digital Transformation of the HP Sector and Requirement of HPPs were completed. These findings outline the digital transformation goals for each pilot HPP, the specifications for novel sensors, and their optimal placement.

In addition, the team defined use cases and the digitisation levels each HPP can achieve, paving the way for developing Di-Hydro’s digital twins and decision-making platform. And finally, best practices and barriers for digitisation of operation and maintenance of hydropower plants were also identified.

Advancing Sensor Technologies

To digitalise the HPPs, the Di-Hydro team also focused on selecting and specifying innovative sensors. These sensors will monitor structural health of machinery or infrastructure, biofouling, biodiversity, environmental factors, and water flow, while also supporting underwater inspections.

Moreover, the partners at IMT addressed methodologies for sensor data processing, storage, and exchange. Lead by INOSENS, several activities are ongoing and planned in validating these methods under laboratory conditions, ensuring their reliability and applicability to real-world HPP environments.

Developing Digital Models for Enhanced Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

The team also dedicates a great deal of attention into creating the digital infrastructure required for optimal O&M at HPPs. This year, the team made insightful progress in developing secure-by-design architecture and implementing forecasting techniques for meteorological and water flow data.

Environmental and biodiversity monitoring models are being established using diverse data sources, while Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence algorithms are analysing sample data from laboratory setups. Efforts are underway to integrate virtual models of the assets into the Di-Hydro’s digital twin (DT) framework, utilising real-world pilot data.

The ultimate goal here is to deliver an advanced visualisation tool integrated within the digital twin, enabling predictive analytics for weather, water flow, biodiversity, and structural health of the HP into the Di-Hydro Decision-Making Platform, which will not only optimise O&M, but also facilitate online handling of HPP operations in real case scenarios.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As Di-Hydro enters its second year, the project will continue building on these achievements. 2025 promises to be a milestone year, with numerous events and sessions planned in collaboration with other hydropower initiatives.

Stay connected with Di-Hydro with our Newsletter and keep updated on the transformative impact of Di-Hydro innovations on the hydropower sector.

Author: Di-Hydro project

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), in collaboration with the Hydro4U project’s regional consortium partners TIIAME and KSTU, is actively involved in developing and disseminating open-source educational materials based on the project’s lessons learned and outcomes. While the Hydro4U project has produced numerous tools and assessments, ensuring their long-term utility requires effective dissemination and integration into broader applications.

To achieve this, IWMI has been engaging with key stakeholders, including representatives from KSTU and TIIAME, to define the scope and focus of these educational materials. Simultaneously, IWMI is organising meetings with further relevant academic institutions and industries — such as organisations involved in water, food, and energy management — to identify skill gaps and explore how tailored teaching materials can address these needs.

For example: one notable event took place on October 28–29, 2024 in Andijan, Uzbekistan, in partnership with the Andijan Institute of Agriculture and Agrotechnologies. This gathering brought together over 70 participants from diverse sectors, including academia, executive bodies of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination, provincial basin organizations, local water management entities in the Ferghana Valley, farmers, and the general public. The event focused on addressing Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus challenges, exploring practical implementation strategies, and sharing regional experiences from Nexus-related interventions.

During this event, Jakhongir Mirzakabulov from TIIAME presented a draft WEFE Nexus-oriented curriculum structure, receiving valuable feedback from the participants. On the second day, a group discussion session facilitated brainstorming among mixed groups of participants, including industry and academic representatives. The discussions focussed on identifying capacity gaps between graduates’ skills and industry expectations and exploring strategies to bridge these gaps effectively.

In the coming months, IWMI will continue working with TIIAME, KSTU, and regional partners to finalise a set of educational materials. These resources aim to meet regional demands by empowering future WFEC Nexus leaders through targeted capacity-building initiatives, provided as open-source educational materials.

Author and picture credits: Bunyod Holmatov (IWMI)

IWMI is leading Hydro4U project activities related to accountability and benefits sharing in the context of the Water-Food-Energy-Climate (WFEC) nexus in Central Asia. While several important milestones have already been achieved, our ongoing activity related to the co-development of integrated cross-border policies for sustainable benefits sharing at tributary level in Central Asia may be of interest to a very broad audience.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, much focus in Central Asia has been placed on developing and strengthening institutional setup at the full basin level. Small tributaries, however, key places for introducing small hydropower (SHP) solutions, continue to receive less attention. Through stakeholder interviews and review of literature, IWMI researchers have determined that only a handful of small transboundary tributaries (STTs) are covered by cross-border agreements while the majority are not. Moreover, even stakeholders in STTs that are covered by agreements think that the agreements can be strengthened or updated. The reason for that being that existing STT level agreements are not sufficient to address changing water supply and demand dynamics between the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan. For instance, Shakhimardansai which is selected as one of the demonstration sites under Hydro4U is covered by a Soviet-era agreement: Protocol on decadal water allocation in Sokh, Shakhimardan, and Isfayram between the Uzbek and Kyrgyz SSR from June 14, 1981, which specifies decadal, percentage-based water allocation for the vegetation period and is considered a follow up to the Protocol on the Interstate Allocation of Ferghana Valley’s Small Rivers’ Flows from the 1980. Both agreements have a narrow scope and are no longer adequate to capture increasing uncertainty of water supply and demand, making new interventions, such as the introduction of SHPs, risky.

To develop a template or a checklist that can help stakeholders to implement sound legal practices in future consultations on transboundary water agreements in Central Asia, IWMI is analyzing climate resilience of legal frameworks covering STTs while also assessing resilience of select number of STTs, like Shakhimardansai, to future climate change-induced water variability. The methods and results of this activity are discussed with key stakeholders to gather their feedback. This collaborative approach ensures that the resulting template or a checklist will be both practical and resilient.

Picture: Meeting and discussing water management challenges in Ferghana Valley with a representative from the Syrdarya-Sokh Basin Irrigation System Authority.
Photo credit: Bunyod Holmatov (IWMI).

Author: Bunyod Holmatov (IWMI)

Website: International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

D-HYDROFLEX will employ demonstration activities on six real hydroelectric power plants (HPP) across five European countries. This will ensure the replicability of the developed solutions in different geographical and market set ups testing variety use cases.

#1 Polish demo

Demo site: Wały Śląskie hydroelectric power plant

Country: Poland

Location: Brzeg Dolny

Capacity [MW] : 10

Hydro System:  4 Kaplan turbines

Type: Run-of-river

Demo outcomes: As part of the D-Hydroflex project, the Wały Śląskie Water Power Plant will implement a “turbine digital twin” supported by hydrological modelling and CFD simulations. This comprehensive digital twin will also incorporate a predictive maintenance tool, aimed at improving the turbine’s reliability. This initiative sets a precedent for modernizing hydroelectric plants with advanced digital solutions.

Demo impact: The introduction of these technologies is expected to bring numerous benefits. The digital twin and predictive maintenance tool will enable real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making, improving the overall efficiency and sustainability of the plant. Additionally, the enhanced modelling capabilities will provide deeper insights into hydrological patterns, contributing to more effective water management and energy production strategies. These advancements will bolster the plant’s output and serve as a model for similar facilities looking to adopt modern digital solutions.

Involved Partners:

TAURON: Demo HPP owner

PWR: University

#2 Romanian Demo

Demo site: Bratia Hydroelectric Power Plant

Country: Romania

Location: Albeștii de Muscel

Capacity [MW] : 1,56MW

Hydro System:  2 Pelton turbines

Type: Run-of-river

Demo outcomes of the Romanian demo will be focused on:

• Fault detection and predictive maintenance based on advanced SCADA data processing.
• Energy production forecasting, based on available data related to the power station operation
• Hybridization of HPP for increased flexibility by facilitating connection to other renewable energy sources via local smart grids and/or VPP.

Demo impact of the Romanian demo will be focused on:

• Increase smart readiness of the HPP for operation and preventive maintenance purposes
• Readiness for hybrid future connection with other RES sources and/or VPP
• Readiness for integration & operation into local smart grids

Involved Partners:

IDEA Technology provider

INTEX Demo HPP owner

CARTIF Research Institute

#3 Spanish Demo

Demo site: Salto de Touro Hybrid Hydroelectric Power Plant

Country: Spain

Location: Ulla River

Capacity [MW]: 12

Hydro System:  2 Kaplan turbines

Type:    Run-of-river

Demo outcomes: The Spanish demo aims to revolutionize run-of-river hydro power plants by integrating a hybrid model for enhanced flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. This involves generating hydrogen on-site through an electrolysis plant with 0.4 MW of installed capacity, contributing to a substantial reduction of emissions compared to conventional technologies. Other key outcomes include advancements in hybrid power plant knowledge, algorithms for optimal operation, and comprehensive environmental parameter monitoring.

Demo impact: This demo not only fosters sustainable practices but also facilitates the integration of hydrogen technology in small hydro power plants, aligning with energy targets and enhancing economic and environmental sustainability within the hydro power sector.

Description of Technology implemented: Two multi-parameter probes will be installed, whose data will feed the algorithms that predict the production capacity of Green Hydrogen as a function of water quality.

Expected impact: The objective is to obtain an accurate understanding of the capacity of inland waters for use in the production of green hydrogen by determining the hybridisation possibilities of the extensive network of hydropower facilities in Europe.

Involved Partners:

TASGA Demo HPP owner

ENERGYLAB Research and Technology Institute

CARTIF Research and Technology Institute

#4 French Demo

Demo site:  Mauzac Hydroelectric Power Plant

Country: France

Location: Dordogne River & Selune River

Capacity [MW]: 13.2

Hydro System:  1 Kaplan & 5 Francis turbines

Type: Run-of-river

Demo outcomes

The main expected outcomes of the French demonstrators are:

• Increasing the HPP performance regarding hydropower production while lowering its environmental impact, especially on fish passage.
• Providing information on the migration dynamic fish species, such as salmon, eel, shad etc.
• Optimization of the protection measure or devices, such as turbine management, installation of temporary scientific devices (additional bypass or trap and truck)
• Increasing the knowledges on the dynamics of the fish migration (i.e., migration season, environmental triggers of the migration)

Demo impact

These efforts align with the goals of increasing hydropower production while minimizing the environmental impact. The French demonstrator showcases a commitment to sustainable energy practices and effective fish conservation strategies.

Involved Partners:

EDF Demo HPP owner

# 5 Greek Demo

Country: Greece

Regions: Kremasta  & Ilarion

Location: Acheloos & Aliakmon Rivers

Capacity: [MW] 437 & 153

Hydro system    4 Francis turbines & 2 Francis turbines

Type: Earth Fill

Demo outcomes: The technologies implemented and demonstrated within the Greek demo include:

• An asset management platform that will integrate geometric, non-geometric and management information data.
• The automatic generation of the geometric digital twin model for the HPPs.
• A federated learning intrusion detection system, for early detecting cyberattacks against the OT and automation systems of the dams.

Demo Impact: The Greek demo aims to enhance hydroelectric power plant resilience by early detecting intrusions and malicious activities. Moreover, the demo aims to suggest data standards for efficient digital dam management in operations and maintenance.

Involved Partners:

MINDS Technology provider

PPC Demo HPP owner

UCL University

UOC University

Author: D-Hydroflex

Information on the demonstrators: https://d-hydroflex.eu/demonstrators/

Website: www.d-hydroflex.eu

LinkedIn: d-hydroflex

Twitter: @d-hydroflex

The current hydropower plant fleet in the EU is aged, and it is estimated that 50% of the fleet will require upgrade actions by 2030. In particular, modernisation actions related to digitalisation are required in the short to medium term, in order to offer enhanced services, increase grid flexibility, environmental and socio-economic sustainability and to foster the green and digital transitions in Europe.

The iAMP-Hydro project will improve the operations of existing hydropower stations through the development of new digital sensors and services. Combined, these will form a novel intelligent Asset Management Platform for Hydropower Operation and Maintenance, the iAMP.

The following aspects are worked on in the project to reach the iAMP-Hydro objectives:

• Condition Monitoring of Hydropower Equipment (lab scale & on-site sensors)
• Predictive Maintenance Modelling (lab scale & on-site sensors)
• Ecology Monitoring Sensor Development, Data Analysis & Smart Flow Steering (lab scale & on-site sensors)
• Flow & Available Power Prediction Model Development
• Semantic Interoperability Mechanisms for Hydropower, Energy & other relevant Data
• End-User Requirements and Architecture Design for the ICT Components of iAMP-Hydro & iAMP implementation
• Data Analytics and Hydro Asset Management Platform Development
• System Validation in Operating Hydro plants & Case studies

By reaching the objectives, iAMP-Hydro aims at increasing the technology competitiveness of existing hydro by reducing O&M costs by 5-10 %, improving generation and revenues, increasing flexibility and data-driven decision making in hydropower operations. It will also increase the market penetration of renewables in the grid by 8.4 TWh/y, getting closer to the EU 2030 Climate and Energy targets, and the EU green deal. iAMP-Hydro will improve environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the existing hydropower fleet by reducing operating costs by € 1 billion per annum, reducing CO2 emissions by 1260 tonnes, creating 10,000 future-proof jobs, and enabling environmentally sustainable flow regulation using digital solutions.

Furthermore, the iAMP-Hydro project invites interested stakeholders to its Community of Practice where the latest results are presented for discussion, getting directly involved to form a sustainable energy future (connecting hydropower, PV and wind energy). Registration and participation at the Community of Practice is free of charge, thanks to funding from the European Union. Register here if you want to be part of it: Community of Practice – www.iamp-hydro.eu

Save-the Date: On 4 December 2024, we invite you for our 2^nd Co-Development Workshop, dedicated to the topic of Artificial intelligence in hydropower digitalisation webinar. You can find out more on www.iamp-hydro.eu .

Site presentation example:

One of the five demonstration sites is HPP Bermejales (2.1 MW) in the South of Spain. It is a dam-toe type plant with an average production of 2 GWh per annum, with a reservoir of 102.6 hm3. It is in a dry tropical climate. The plant contains a Francis turbine with 0.8-4.8 m3/s flows, and a nominal head of 56.5 m at 750 rpm. This is also an ideal plant to explore possible solutions of hybridisation and interoperability with other renewable sources and to foster hydro flexibility solutions and participation in energy markets, due to its seasonal operation, as the downstream water is used for irrigation which takes place for just a few months per year.

Content provided by Ingo Ball (WIP Renewable Energies) & the iAMP-Hydro consortium

Links:

• Website: Home – www.iamp-hydro.eu
• Newsletter: Newsletter – www.iamp-hydro.eu
• LinkedIn: (2) iAMP-Hydro Project: Übersicht | LinkedIn
• X: iAMP-Hydro (@iAMP_Hydro) / X

Despite its proven potential, small-scale hydropower in Central Asia remains largely underdeveloped, even as electricity demand continues to grow. To address this challenge, the Hydro4U project aims to introduce innovative, modular, and standardized European hydropower technologies suitable for both low-head and medium-head applications in the region. By adapting these technologies to Central Asia, Hydro4U aims to demonstrate their viability within a forward-looking cross-border Water/Food/Energy/Climate nexus and enhance their price competitiveness. Additionally, the project supports European hydropower manufacturers and service providers in preparing for entry into the Central Asian market, with Steinbeis leading the way.

Innovation management in Hydro4U

From the start of the project, Steinbeis has been diligently monitoring the innovative outcomes, assisting partners in articulating their results in terms of their substance, intended utilization, and ownership of Intellectual Property.

In an effort to facilitate the introduction of the most promising results into the market, Steinbeis orchestrated the efforts of four Project Partners (TUM, GHE, Muhr, CARTIF) with innovative solutions. They conducted a thorough market analysis, which will be the foundation for the design of robust business models and pave the way for the future exploitation of their individual solutions in Central Asia.

Evaluation of the market is key

Understanding the targeted market is key to a successful exploitation. For the innovative solutions selected, some of the following elements were analysed: customer segments,  competition and the forces at play, feasibility of operations (initial assessment on how to create, deliver and capture value), identify potential problems.

This evaluation was tackled at the micro-environmental level, i.e. the factors, an organisation is directly interacting with (e.g. customers, suppliers, competitors) and at the macro-environmental level, i.e. external factors that are beyond control of the organisation but have impact on it or on its micro-environment.

To round up the market analysis, an assessment of chances (strengths, opportunities) and risks (weaknesses, threats) for each solution was carried out in the form of a SWOT analysis. This, in turn, should help the owners of these four innovative solutions to use the gained knowledge to design stronger business models for their solutions.

As a conclusion, we were able to establish the attractiveness of the Central Asian SHP sector for European suppliers of products and services. Not only there is a large untapped small hydropower potential, but further potential might be unlocked considering all the remote sites that are only accessible by solutions from Hydro4U. Also, Central Asian is characterised by a growing energy demand combined with an increasing public acceptance towards renewable energy supply. The four Hydro4U results meet these opportunities with appealing solutions. Those innovations create a win-win situation, as the high quality products keep maintenance costs low in the long run, while they guarantee ecological sustainability and flexibility to adapt to different geographical and infrastructural conditions.

In the Central Asian market, however, challenges may arise from the energy policy with regard to the feed-in tariffs, the cultural differences, the language barrier or the great distance between manufacturers and the operating sites. Not to mention the fact that competition is strong in the hydropower industry with Central Asia.

What is next

In the next steps, the partners will be supported in the drafting of appropriate Business Models and strategies to operate successfully in Central Asia.

Author and picture credits: Isabelle Dubreuilh, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum

Website: Innovation Funding | Steinbeis Europa Zentrum – Steinbeis EN (steinbeis-europa.de)

In October 2022, EV-INBO and TIIAME tagged 29 snowtrouts in Shakhimardan to track their movements and habitat use at the demo site before the construction of the hydropower installation. Although the manufacturer estimated that the tags would last one year, which was enough for our study, about ten are still active!

This provides an excellent opportunity as it provides us extra data, particularly in spring, as that proved to be the period that snowtrouts migrated over 10 km downstream for reasons we are still analysing. Therefore, scientists from TIIAME are still going to Shakhimardan regularly to track the snowtrouts. In addition, another 30 radio transmitters have been ordered and will be surgically implanted in the snowtrouts the coming spring to continue the tracking experiment. The goal of this following tagging experiment is to study if the hydropower installation and activation has an impact on the snowtrouts returning to the River Koksu after their downstream adventures.

We are currently analysing the tracking data that has been collected so far and in general, we observed that the snowtrouts move downstream in spring and early summer, but migrate back upstream in late summer and autumn.

Author and picture credits: Pieterjan Verhelst, EV-INBO

Since the beginning of the Hydro4U project, the partners have been working together on the planning and installation of two small hydropower plants in Central Asia.

For the demonstration hydropower plant in At-Bashy, Kyrgyzstan, in addition to the turbine components supplied by project partner Global Hydro Energy, Austria, many hydraulic steelwork components (stop logs, penstocks and trash racks, as well as a trash rack cleaner) were also planned. This is where the company Erhard Muhr GmbH, Germany, comes into play. They are experienced in manufacturing of hydropower equipment. As part of Hydro4U their core activities are the economic and ecological optimisation of the Hydroshaft Power Plant equipment, the manufacturing, supply and installation of trash racks with integrated cleaning device, flow regulation gates, stop logs, as well as the validation.

They calculated and constructed these in detail for the demo-site in At-Bashy using up to date CAD and FEM tools. From autumn 2023 until the end of 2023, this first phase was completed and Muhr focused on the production of these parts ever since including production planning and purchasing. Since 2024, they have been directly involved in the production of the components.

Components, such as the stainless steel guides for the top water dam panel, the regulating gate and the underwater dam panel and their lifting beams, and the supports for the shaft rakes are embedded in the concrete during construction work are ready for delivery to the demo-site. Due to the climatic conditions, the guide for the penstock is equipped with piping for a heating system. This system will keep the gate operational even in the harsh winter conditions in Kyrgyzstan.

The stop logs are made of lightweight aluminum in order to keep the crane capacities required for assembly and disassembly as low as possible. It is possible that the dam panels will already enable or support the damming and drainage of the construction site for the installation of the remaining equipment.

Author: Fabian Böttger, Project Management, Muhr

Picture credits: Muhr