This month marked the start of HYDROPOWER EUROPE’s expert consultation activities to support the development of the Forum’s Research & Innovation Agenda and Strategic Industry Roadmap.

Through an extensive programme of review and consultation addressing the whole hydropower sector and stakeholders (including construction, production, environmental and social issues), the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Forum will provide a focal point for reviewing and developing hydropower in Europe, and subsequently European hydropower in the wider world.

An initial online consultation took place, with replies from over 100 experts which were used to define the workflow and topics to be addressed in the First Expert Group Meeting. This consultation focused on topics such as:

• What are the main needs and priorities for Research & Innovation in hydropower?
• What is the current status of hydropower technology?
• What are the main challenges that the sector faces in terms of innovation?
• What kind of funding is needed?

This First Expert Group Meeting took place on the 13th and 14th March in Brussels with 28 experts present from 13 different countries.

At the start of the meeting, Anton Schleiss, honorary president of ICOLD, stated: “From today, with the input of the top experts in Europe, we will help shape Hydropower in Europe. Together we will contribute to the European Energy Transition with Hydropower’s essential role.”

The first drafts of the Agenda and Roadmap were presented in the beginning of the meeting. Following the discussions and exchanges, the experts’ input will now be used to continue their development. These documents will in the future provide a guide for funding authorities and, in particular, the European Commission to prioritise support where it is most needed, thus adapting the sector to the constantly evolving energy system.

A wider online consultation will take place in the Summer of 2019, following on the latest developments of the Agenda and Roadmap.