| New developments
Technology Industry Platforms (ETIPs), European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and other sector organisations for the integrated use of renewables in view of safe electricity supply. Mathilde Lallemand, Policy Officer from the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission (DG ENER), was the first keynote speaker of the day and spoke about the Reform of the Electricity Market Design. She presented three major tools: power purchase agreements, two-way contracts for differences for public support for new investments, and forward markets. She concluded that the role of hydropower in providing such flexibility will be key. The second keynote speaker, Ana Paula Moreira, Head of European Affairs of the national energy company in Portugal (EDP), presented the audience with good practice examples from Portugal, such as the scheme at Alqueva, a large multipurpose reservoir that integrates both solar and hydropower sources. In the first discussion session, Ghislain Weisrock
from France Hydro Electricité presented a study on the French power system which estimates that the flexibility needs in 2050 will be seven or eight times the current provisions, but a lack of profitability for the use of flexible technology will be the main threat to achieving these requirements. Weisrock stressed that a new market model must find an appropriate framework in order to invest in flexibility and maintain existing services. Sera Lazaridou from Hydroexigiantiki Consulting Engineers in Greece showed that the total hydropower production in Greece focuses on multipurpose use, and highlighted its important role in the event of extraordinary system energy demand. She also outlined that pumped storage projects are on the rise in Greece. The main objectives and targets of the New National Energy and Climate Plan (ENCP), based on draft announcements, promotes until 20230 additional pumped storage schemes with a capacity of 2.5 GW plus an increased hydropower capacity of4GW. Peter Lustenberger, from AXPO Power in
Switzerland, shared the Swiss experience of roundtable negotiation to achieve a common understanding for reaching zero emissions targets, ensuring the security of the energy supply and preserving biodiversity in Switzerland. Through this process, with agreement on the 2TWh additional winter energy goal until 2040, 15 hydropower storage projects were recommended for development, to support and ensure the energy strategy for 2050. In the second session economic challenges were
covered by Maryse François, from MFX Consulting in France, who gave the examples of China, Australia, Israel and Switzerland. Francois claims that pumped storage plants are mandatory to support intermittent renewable energy and to achieve the net zero carbon emission target, and for this reason, a long-term vision of tariff and policy is needed. This includes simplifying the licensing process, reducing permitting processing time, rewarding services provided, defining long-term policy/contract and valorising multi-purpose water use. She reiterated the message from the International Energy Agency which said that hydropower is the forgotten giant of clean electricity. It needs to be put squarely back on the energy and climate agenda if countries are serious about meeting their net zero goals.
Professor Jeffrey Tuhtan from Tallin University of
Technology in Estonia presented the impressive results of a new research field called etho-hydraulics, which uses digital monitoring technologies for monitoring fish behaviour at hydropower plants, and which could provide the necessary reporting data for the EU taxonomy’s Technical Screening Criteria and Do No Significant Harm Criteria, offering the opportunity to quantify the effects of climate change on fish migration. Eddie Rich, CEO of The International Hydropower Association (IHA) looked at societal challenges and stated that irresponsible hydropower projects are no longer acceptable. The Hydropower Sustainability Standard has been developed by a multi-stakeholder council including governments, hydropower companies, environmental and social NGOs, and financial institutions. This standard will help to demonstrate sustainability, build trust and reputation, manage risk with independent audits, align with industry and investors, and access climate bonds. The third session focused on collaboration with other energy associations and platforms. The work done under the ASPIRE collaboration, whose scope is to promote predictable and reliable renewable technologies, was introduced by representatives of Ocean Europe who explained how EERA and ETIP HYDROPOWER align and are bound to collaborate. The future participation of ETIP Hydropower in the revision of the SET Plan and in the ETIP Forum was introduced and commented on by Thomas Schleker representing EC Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. Then Jean-Louis Drommi closed the third session by exposing a few takeaways of the project XFLEX HYDRO. He confirmed that the hybridisation of hydro and small size battery can save up to 90% wear & tear of turbine mechanisms. Finally Dr Mark Morris, from SAMUI France, closed
the presentations by introducing the audience to discussing the next steps the ETIP Hydropower will be taken to participate in the transition to a future association. He identified a key role of the project being to help unify the hydropower sector, presenting a single voice on key issues, and thus enhancing and complementing the role of existing associations.
Above: Mr Eddie Rich from IHA (left) presenting the Hydropower Sustainability Standard during Session 2 with participation of Ms Maryse François, from MFX Consulting (right) and Mr Jeffrey Tuhtan, Professor at the Tallin University of Technology (middle)
References
Recordings of 2023 Brussels Hydropower Day can be seen
at:
https://www.youtube. com/playlist?list=PL1_ zykRPs68kl0em 2B6Y9
XuryYsMNd4Zq
The ETIP HYDROPOWER project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme and the consortium comprises eight expert organisations including: EUREC, Samui France, European Association For Storage of Energy (EASE), ICOLD, VGB Powertech, Zabala Brussels, European Renewable Energies Federation and IHA. The project started in September 2022 and is expected to end in August 2025 and has been granted one million Euros.
https://etip-hydropower.eu
www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2023 | 35
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