SE-HYDRO

Hydropower is still the linchpin of the European renewable energy sector, supplying virtually one third of renewable electricity and essential flexibility services. But its future is ever more threatened by environmental degradation, social opposition, and global competition. SE-HYDRO tackles this twin challenge through the development and validation of environmentally and socially inclusive solutions that increase hydropower flexibility without loss of biodiversity or societal confidence. The project pioneers an integrated framework that brings together societal readiness methodologies, environment and hydrological screening tools, AI-based energy management schemes, and cutting-edge turbine utilisation approaches, all tested through digital copies of four prototype European hydropower plant sites in Greece, France, Portugal, and Serbia. These four pilots that cover run-of-river, reservoir, cascades, as well as intake-tunnel small plant technologies offer varied testbeds for eco-flexible operation, biodiversity-integrated management, and stakeholder participation. Through co-development with operators, policymakers, local populations, and NGOs, SE-HYDRO instils societal legitimisation and speeds up uptake. Its nine Key Exploitable Results offer practical pathways—from new business models to biodiversity-inclusive water management approaches to a European replication and export roadmap. Combined, they underpin Europe's technological excellence and competitiveness, while instilling hydropower in the wider transition to climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, and societal readiness.