ExpectedOutcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Refurbish, upgrade and increase existing hydropower capacity to make it fit for market and digital challenges of the future power system and for supporting increasing shares of variable renewable energy sources.
- Increase technology leadership, competitiveness and technology export potential of European hydropower industry.
- Enhanced sustainability of refurbished hydropower installations, taking fully into account circular economy, social, economic and environmental (including climate change) aspects in line with the European Green Deal priorities and in particular biodiversity.
Scope:
Demonstration of innovative solutions for sustainable hydropower refurbishment. With existing hydropower installation as a base, solutions are expected to demonstrate innovative technical solutions for refurbishment with increased sustainability of refurbished hydropower in terms of business models in changing power markets, including digital requirements. In this context, the overall future potential of the innovative solutions in EU Member States/Associated countries should be analysed. It is required to improve environmental sustainability with a particular focus on biodiversity including up- and downstream -migration of aquatic organisms and sediment management and maintaining important geomorphological processes and preserving habitats. Also, additional benefits for society should be addressed, e.g. for recreational use, flood control, navigation, drought management. The innovative refurbishment solution should go beyond increased efficiency but lead to net-improvements in socioeconomic and environmental sustainability also considering future climate change adaptation needs. Socio-economic and environmental sustainability including SDGs, circular economy, social, economic and environmental aspects should be addressed on a life cycle basis.
Specific Topic Conditions:
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
