Working Group Outcomes

During the WG4 regular meetings five presenters from the Eastern Europe introduced the hydropower status in their countries, development opportunities, policy measures and main barriers and enablers for hydropower development. Poland saw the 87% increase in small hydropower capacity during the period of 2006-2021, but still the utilization of hydropower potential in the country is one of the lowest in Europe – 17%. In Czechia, where Viktor Kaplan invented his turbine in 1912, hydropower development is limited by geographical and historical reasons. Still, hydropower share in produced electricity amongst all renewables in approx. 25%. Romania is successfully phasing out fossil fuel power plants and is planning strategic investments into hydropower projects. In Bulgaria hydropower is the third source of electricity in the country, but further development is limited by number of different factors. Moldova government support hydropower development in the country, but hydropower can fall behind solar and wind due to the fact that the equipment of these two sources are cheaper to import and that there is limited technical expertise in hydropower in the country with possible locations for development. You can find the selected presentations from the Eastern Europe here:

Czech Republic / Poland / Bulgaria

During the WG4 regular meeting four presenters from the Northern Europe introduced hydropower status in their countries, development opportunities, policy measures and main barriers and enablers for hydropower development. The United Kingdom has been a pioneer in hydropower development and today has a total hydropower installed capacity of over 4,700 MW, including over 2,800 MW of pumped storage. Norway has 40% of hydropower storage in Europe. Despite increase in environmental requirements Norway is still among the fastest developers of hydropower in Europe, although now more limited to small hydropower. Latvia has one of the highest shares in total electricity generation from hydropower (52.4%) in Europe without having any pumped storage hydropower plant. In Lithuania last hydropower potential was added in 2017 despite the amendment of the Water Law that lifted the ban on some of the previously protected rivers. You can find the selected presentations from the Northern Europe here. 

Norway / UK / Latvia

During the WG4 regular meetings ten presenters from the Southern Europe introduced the hydropower status in their countries, development opportunities, policy measures and main barriers and enablers for hydropower development. Portugal during the period 2007-2023 added 3.4 GW (increase of 70%) of installed hydropower capacity. In Italy the share of hydropower in total electricity generation is 16.5%. It is a country that during the 2015-2022 period received highest funding from the Horizon program for the projects related to hydropower. In Croatia Jaruga hydropower plant is one of the oldest hydropower plant still operating to this day – built in 1895. Today hydropower in Croatia generates up to 50% of consumed electricity.  Governmental Energy strategies propose to increase the capacity with the perspective till 2050. On average one third of electricity generated in Slovenia comes from hydropower. Country has exceptional examples, such as Brežice HPP, of environmental good practise in construction of hydropower plants. There are 13 hydropower plants with total capacity of 101 MW in Kosovo. The country is planning the development of renewable energy sources as fossil fuel power plants now constitute up to 85% of total energy installations. Approximately 40% of economically exploitable hydropower potential has been developed in Greece. Further development is limited due to liberalization of the electricity market and environmental impact with small hydropower plants perceived as more suitable solution. The share of hydropower in total electricity production in North Macedonia is 24.3%. According to renewable energy development scenarios, hydropower will have the highest share amongst other renewable energy sources in the country till 2040 and beyond. In Serbia hydropower is the second largest electricity producer in the country. It still has approx. 7 TWh of remaining technical potential, but limitation is that significant amount of resources is located on the border rivers. The cascade, built in Albania on the Drin River, is the largest in the Balkans, by installed capacity, as well as by the size of the hydropower plants. The country reached utilisation of approx. 50 % of country hydro potential with new projects in the pipeline. In Bosnia and Herzegovina 35% of electricity is produced by hydropower plants. New projects are facing administrative challenges related to environmental protection. You can find the selected presentations from the Southern Europe here. 

Slovenia / Serbia / Portugal / Greece / Croatia

During the WG4 regular meetings two presenters from the Western Europe introduced the hydropower status in their countries, development opportunities, policy measures and main barriers and enablers for hydropower development. In Austria electricity production is based mainly on hydropower among other renewables (73%). Reduction from a dependency on natural gas from Russia is in progress and is boosted by the installation of new renewables, mainly wind and solar. Storage is lacking behind and mainly done by pumped storage power plants. In Switzerland hydropower provide 64% of power capacity and roughly 58% of generation. In 2017, more than 25 projects were under construction in Switzerland with a total capacity of approx. 1000 MW. One of the main challenges in the country is that, between 2020 and 2050, 23 TWh of hydropower generation (more than 65%) will get to the end of its hydraulic concession. Hydropower plant’s owners face a concession renewal process that will involve new requirements for flexibility and environmental mitigation measures. You can find the presentations from the Western Europe here:

Austria / Switzerland

On September 23, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium, PEN@Hydropower hosted a key conference addressing the skills shortage in the hydropower sector. Industry leaders, academics, and policymakers discussed the need for stronger collaboration between universities, industry, and governments to attract new talent and prepare students for the evolving renewable energy landscape.

Report can be found here.