Expanding local hydroelectric energy solutions while respecting ecosystems
Hydroelectric energy plays a key role in Europe’s energy transition, but faces challenges such as climate change, impacts on ecosystems, and lack of social acceptance, in addition to other recent issues such as the major blackout of 2025. HydroPulse is an innovative project that reimagines how European hydroelectric power plants operate. The objective is to create a hydroelectric sector that is more flexible, resilient, ecologically balanced, and socially accepted.
The project will develop 10 innovative tools and 5 advanced models that will be validated in 5 case studies in Switzerland, Romania, Spain (2), and Portugal. These solutions will be applied across 3 temporal scales. In real time, artificial intelligence systems will optimise the operation of hydroelectric power plants in response to immediate changes in water flow. In the short term, advanced predictions will be made to align energy production with market demands, while respecting river ecosystems. In the long term, investments will be planned to mitigate the effects of droughts and floods through nature-based solutions.
HydroPulse will be co-designed with local communities and stakeholders. Each solution will be developed together with local actors and with due respect for the environment, to ensure that they are practical and resolve real conflicts over water use, and thus ensure a transition towards more sustainable and participatory hydroelectricity.
