A new European research initiative aimed at balancing hydropower flexibility with environmental protection and social acceptance has officially launched under the Horizon Europe programme.
The SE-HYDRO project began with a kick-off meeting in Athens on 6–7 May 2026, bringing together 16 partners from research organisations, industry and civil society across Europe.
The project will focus on developing and testing operational and management solutions intended to help hydropower plants provide greater grid flexibility while limiting impacts on river ecosystems and water resources.
Hydropower currently accounts for almost 30% of renewable electricity generation in the European Union and around 13% of the overall power mix. As the share of variable renewable generation increases, hydropower is expected to play a growing role in balancing electricity systems and supporting grid stability.
However, increased operational flexibility can also create environmental pressures, including hydropeaking impacts and disruption to aquatic habitats. According to project information, around 28% of planned hydropower projects in Europe are located in protected areas.
SE-HYDRO is coordinated by the Energy Policy Unit of the National Technical University of Athens (EPU-NTUA). Over the next three and a half years, project partners will develop and evaluate a range of technologies and methodologies, including environmental and hydrological screening tools, AI-based energy management systems and advanced turbine utilisation approaches.
The solutions will be tested using digital replicas of four hydropower sites in Greece, France, Portugal and Serbia. The pilot sites represent a range of hydropower configurations, including run-of-river, reservoir, cascade and intake-tunnel schemes.
The project also places a strong emphasis on stakeholder participation and public acceptance. Local authorities, NGOs, river users and hydropower operators will be involved in consultation and governance processes linked to the pilot sites.
SE-HYDRO is among the first projects selected under the European Commission’s Societal Readiness Pilot initiative, which aims to ensure new energy technologies are developed with greater public engagement and transparency.
