For a renewables-based electricity system sufficiently flexible and also in the long-run highly sustainable hydropower capacity is pivotal.

Project results are expected to contribute to some of the following expected outcomes, to the benefit of hydropower operators and technology providers:

• Enhanced capacity and flexibility of the hydropower fleet to contribute to renewable energy systems and management of water flows;
• Increased technology leadership, competitiveness, and technology export potential of the European hydropower industry;
• Enhanced sustainability of hydropower with positive effects on river ecosystems and biodiversity, and considering adaptation to climate change;
• Responsiveness to a deeper understanding of the needs and concerns of diverse social groups, citizens and civil society at large involved in or potentially affected by the R&I development, thereby increasing the potential for beneficial societal uptake and building trust in results and outcomes.

Proposals are expected to develop hydropower technology solutions or improved water management schemes or a combination of both, which allow for synergies between flexible hydropower energy generation and local ecosystem management for existing run-of-river hydropower or reservoir hydropower plants or cascades of such plants, which are connected to the grid. To achieve this objective, thematic areas like e.g., hydropeaking, floodplain biotopes, sediment transport and/or river morphology restoration and environmentally efficient water flows also considering effects of climate change, can be addressed. Societal needs and the participation of local communities in decision processes in view of trust building should be considered.

Developed solutions are expected to enhance the flexibility of hydropower generation according to current and expected power grid needs and water availability, while being highly sustainable and creating positive impacts on river ecosystems and biodiversity, through e.g., equipment, material and digital innovation, nature-inclusive design, ecosystem restoration solutions, innovative and sustainable reservoir and water flow operation and management. Developed solution should not reduce the hydropower generation efficiency and equipment functionality while improving the environmental performances arising from this in a win-win optimisation. Respective impacts for both, energy and biodiversity should be assessed. Research and Innovation on pumped storage hydropower as well as on water management schemes not related to hydropower or not directly connected to natural water bodies is excluded from this topic.

This topic is a Societal-Readiness pilot:

• Proposals should follow the instructions applying to the Societal readiness pilot, as described in the introduction of the Horizon Europe Main Work Programme 2025 for Climate, Energy and Mobility. They entail the use of an interdisciplinary approach to deepening consideration and responsiveness of research and innovation activities to societal needs and concerns.
• This topic requires effective contribution of the relevant SSH expertise, including the involvement of SSH experts in the consortium, to meaningfully support Societal Readiness. Specifically, SSH expertise is expected to facilitate the socio-technological interface and enable the design of project objectives with Societal Readiness related activities.