3rd Training School
Porto, Portugal
Sustainability and Hydropower professionals met in Portugal for our third Training School.
EN@Hydropower successfully hosted its third Training School (TS 2-2) on Sustainable Hydropower in Porto, Portugal, from September 3rd to 6th, 2024. The event was funded by COST Action CA21104, VGBE, EERA, IHA, Andritz, AXPO Group and Salzburg AG and marked the second training school held in 2024. The training brought together 20 participants from both the academic and private sectors across Europe, offering a platform to deepen their understanding of sustainable hydropower practices.
Our training school was held at the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto.
Topics & Activities
Introduction to Hydropower Sustainability Standards
Perspectives and roles in assessments
Site Visit to Foz Tua hydropower plant
Jõao Costa, Hydropower Sustainability Alliance
Guest Trainer
João Costa is Executive Director of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, the multistakeholder standard setting organisation that manages the HS Standard.
He has delivered numerous projects in the field of international development, played a pivotal role in the creation of a new sustainability certification system, and led the foundation of the new HS Alliance.
Dr. Jian-hua Meng, HTWG Hochschule Konstanz
Guest Trainer
Prof. Dr Jian-hua Meng is a senior sustainable hydropower advisor working on sustainable water infrastructure, specifically on hydropower, both at the technical and policy level, and through field support for WWF freshwater programmes. He worked as an engineer and project manager with a consulting group in Germany, planning and implementing water and urban infrastructure projects, river restoration, flood protection, and energy projects. Dr Meng holds a PhD in civil engineering. He is a Professor of water resources management, hydraulic engineering and spatial planning at the University of Applied Sciences in Konstanz / Germany.
Our Trainers
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Marina Cerpinska
Rīgas Tehniskā Universitāte
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Pavel Rudolf
Brno University of Technology
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Ewa Malicka
Polish Association for Small Hydropower Development TRMEW
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Oreste Fecarotta
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
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Ritesh Patro
University of Oulu
Key Highlights
The sessions introduced attendees to various aspects of sustainable hydropower, including technological innovations, climate change adaptation, stakeholder engagement, and clean energy transition. Some of the key presentations included:
Hydropower Flexibility: Prof. Oreste Fecarotta from the University of Naples Federico II highlighted the importance of flexibility in hydropower systems, addressing how hydropower can adapt to changing energy demands.
Technological Evolution: Pavel Rudolf from Brno University of Technology presented an overview of recent technological advancements and their impact on hydropower's efficiency and sustainability.
Hydrology and Climate Change: Ritesh P. from the University of Oulu discussed the effects of hydrology, extreme weather events, and climate change on hydropower systems.
Hydropower and the Clean Energy Transition: Ewa Malicka from Towarzystwo Rozwoju Małych Elektrowni Wodnych explored the role of hydropower in Europe’s clean energy transition, emphasizing the need to balance renewable energy production with environmental preservation.
Stakeholder Engagement: Marina Cerpinska led discussions on the importance of engaging stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of hydropower projects to ensure sustainable outcomes.
Participants also discussed the role of sustainability standards in hydropower projects. Jian-hua Meng from HTWG Hochschule Konstanz introduced the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HS Standard), a framework that evaluates the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts of hydropower projects. The group deliberated on how to effectively promote these standards, weighing the benefits of environmental protection and community engagement against potential challenges such as increased costs and complexity.
Field Visit to Foz Tua Hydropower Plant
A key feature of the training school was a field visit to the Foz Tua Hydropower Plant in Vila Real, located approximately 120 km from Porto. This hydroelectric power plant, operational since 2017, has a generating capacity of 274 MW, producing 305 GWh annually. Participants applied the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) to assess the plant's environmental and social impacts, water flow management, and infrastructure safety. They also examined the plant’s interaction with the surrounding UNESCO-protected area.
Students collaborated in teams, representing perspectives from various stakeholders such as local communities, NGOs, operators, and government bodies. The discussions yielded insights on the cumulative impacts of hydropower projects, exploring how renewable energy can coexist with environmental preservation.
Guest Speakers and Final Reflections
The Training School featured guest speakers João Costa, Executive Director of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, and Jian-hua Meng, a professor of Water Resources Management and a member of the Hydropower Sustainability Council’s Governance Committee. Both shared their extensive experience and expertise, discussing the pillars of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) and the importance of creating sustainability certification systems.
