Why the EU supports hydropower research and innovation
Hydropower is energy derived from falling or fast running water.
Hydro reservoirs provide built-in energy storage and the fast response time of hydropower allows it to meet sudden fluctuations in supply or demand of other renewable sources (for example solar and wind power).
This means that hydropower can have an increasingly important role in providing flexibility to the electricity system.
Challenges and opportunities
In a changing power system, continuous innovation is needed to keep sustainable hydropower efficient and cost-competitive, including retrofitting measures for existing plants to improve their efficiency and environmental performance.
Solutions to exploit energy production from small reservoirs or hydro plants that can generate power from small differences in the water level (not requiring massive dams to be built) are very promising.
What the EU is doing
The EU supports hydropower research by funding projects that demonstrate the potential of the technology and aim to reduce its environmental impact.
In particular, innovation will support the efficient retrofitting of existing plants and help improve the sustainability of hydropower.
Funding opportunities
Calls for proposal on energy related themes in Horizon Europe and information on the work programme.
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.
Funding for innovative low-carbon technology research with focus on environmentally safe Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and innovative renewable energy technologies
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) is the successor organisation of the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA).
Energy research related calls may be found in these funds
Projects and results
The Commission's primary portal for EU-funded research projects and their results
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded projects
Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking science and innovative research projects funded by the EU.
Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships.
Thematic collections of innovative EU-funded research results in the energy field
Access to real-time programme data with the ability to filter by country, region, theme and more
Collaboration and jobs
Find partners for open EU calls for proposal
Collaborate in energy research and innovation public-private partnerships
International cooperation between the EU and global stakeholders in energy
Researcher jobs in related fields
Scientific publications, tools and databases
SET-Plan implementation progress reports giving data by priority area, country and energy source
Scientific energy research publications published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) compiles databases and develops software and modelling tools. You can access energy research related ones here
Online library of EU energy research publications
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE