This call aims to develop hydropower technology solutions and improved water management schemes that create synergies between flexible hydropower energy generation and local ecosystem management. The objective is to enhance the flexibility of hydropower generation according to current and expected power grid needs and water availability, while ensuring sustainability and positive impacts on river ecosystems and biodiversity. Proposals are expected to address issues such as hydropeaking, floodplain biotopes, sediment transport, river morphology restoration, and environmentally efficient water flows, considering the effects of climate change.

Projects should involve societal needs and participation of local communities in decision processes to build trust and increase societal uptake. Developed solutions should not reduce hydropower generation efficiency and equipment functionality while improving environmental performance in a win-win optimization. Pumped storage hydropower and water management schemes not related to hydropower are excluded from this topic.

This topic is a Societal-Readiness pilot, requiring an interdisciplinary approach to address societal needs and concerns. Effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) expertise is required to facilitate the socio-technological interface and design project objectives with Societal Readiness related activities.

Opening Date: 06 May 2025
Deadline: 16 September 2025

Data provided by Sciencebusiness.net

This funding opportunity represents a pre-agreed draft that has not yet been officially approved by the European Commission. The final, approved version is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2025. This draft is provided for informational purposes and may be used to preliminarily form consortia and develop project ideas, but it is offered without any guarantees or warranties.