Nicosia: HydroPulse, a pioneering Horizon Europe research initiative, is uniting ISOTECH Ltd, a Cypriot research and consultancy firm, with 14 prominent universities, research institutions, and industry partners from nine European nations. With a total budget nearing £4 million, the project is led by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and is scheduled to span 42 months.
According to Cyprus News Agency, HydroPulse is setting out to innovate next-generation solutions for sustainable hydropower systems, integrating advanced digital technologies, artificial intelligence, Nature-based Solutions, and participatory decision-making processes. A unique aspect of HydroPulse is its focus on co-developing solutions with stakeholders who will eventually implement them, ensuring these solutions are scientifically sound, socially accepted, and practical.
ISOTECH highlighted that the project will engage scientists, hydropower operators, public authorities, environmental organizations, and local communities across pilot areas in Switzerland, Romania, Spain, and Portugal. The company will also create stakeholder mapping tools and a unified monitoring and evaluation framework, ensuring the proposed solutions meet the specific needs of each region.
Hydropower contributes approximately 30% of Europe's renewable electricity and is vital to the energy transition. However, many facilities were built decades ago under different conditions. Today, factors such as climate change, ageing infrastructure, and biodiversity protection necessitate a new approach to designing and operating hydropower systems.
Unlike traditional methods, HydroPulse focuses on an integrated management approach, balancing energy generation, water management, and biodiversity conservation. The project aims to develop ten innovative tools, five management models, and an integrated hydro-energy-biodiversity data hub, addressing challenges like hydropeaking, river connectivity, fish migration, and water quality.
Ultimately, HydroPulse seeks to offer solutions applicable beyond its pilot areas, aiming to modernize hydropower systems across Europe. By merging scientific knowledge with local expertise, the project endeavors to demonstrate the compatibility of clean energy production and healthy river ecosystems.