Eurelectric has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Hydropower Association designed to kickstart a collaboration to defend hydropower’s role in the energy transition and advocate for policy support to maximise its flexibility and pumped storage potential.
Belgian-based electricity industry association Eurelectric said that at a time when European climate policies are shaken by more hostile energy geopolitics, security of supply and affordability must remain at the top of policymakers’ agenda.
“Hydropower can and must be part of the solution,” it added.
It said the sector provides firm and flexible power generation when wind and solar are down and accounts for 90% of Europe’s storage capacity.
Despite its benefit, this century-old renewable source is not receiving the recognition it deserves in Europe and I is time to change that, added the trade.
“Hydropower is a crucial resource for Europe’s energy transition and security of supply. We must prioritise refurbishing and upgrading our existing hydropower plants and expand pumped storage capacities,” said Eurelectric’s secretary general Kristian Ruby (pictured).
“I look forward to collaborating with the IHA to fully unlock hydropower’s potential across Europe.”
The cooperation will focus on three key pillars: Closing knowledge gaps among policymakers, ensuring a more supportive policy framework for different hydropower plants, and boosting pumped storage hydropower for 2025.
The two associations will focus on increasing awareness about the diversity of hydropower technologies, foster a more favourable policy framework that supports and accelerates investments and partner up at the 2025 International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower 2.0, in Paris, to raise awareness of the technology.