Press Release - PEN@Hydropower CA21104

A new network funded by the European Union COST Association on sustainable hydropower – PEN@Hydropower –  was launched on the 14th of September 2022 in Brussels with the aim of bringing together researchers, engineers, scholars, and other stakeholders from industry, policy and civil society, to facilitate close collaboration among European research groups through projects supporting sustainable Hydropower.

Hydropower has played an essential role in Europe over decades, providing a unique combination of safe, low-cost, and clean electricity production. It is still one of the largest renewable energy sources, adding up to about 35% of the electricity generated. Within this network, the COST Action will promote cross-disciplinary activities with the aim of knowledge sharing, boost new interlinked collaborations and put the basis for holistic solutions to the complex challenges of building a sustainable hydropower.

The COST Action launched with the participation of over 50 members from 33 countries: 44 members from 28 COST Member Countries, including 16 COST Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC), Near Neighbour Countries and International Partner Countries (Canada, Nepal, India) ranging from Young Researchers and Early Career Investigators (ECI) to senior researchers.

35 delegates from 27 European countries took part in the kick-off meeting in Brussels with 5 working groups led by young enthusiastic researchers from Europe that will lead the various workshops, training schools, round tables and working group meetings in the next 4 years to meet the needs and opportunities for sustainable hydropower production contributing to the Clean Energy Transition (CET)

The network will conclude in 2026 and should work together for a better knowledge exchange, capacity building of young researchers to meet the needs of the future.

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is a funding organisation for the creation of research networks, called COST Actions. These networks offer an open space for collaboration among scientists across Europe (and beyond) and thereby give impetus to research advancements and innovation. This is the first COST Action on Hydropower with focus on Technology and Sustainability to support Europe’s energy transition at the coming future decades.