Vienna Industry Stream Event: Sustainable Hydropower

Convenors: Helmut Habersack (BOKU), Elena Pummer (NTNU)

Rapporteur: Nils Solheim

Date: Thursday, 24 August 2023

Sustainable development of rivers requires integrative management approaches, which combine state-of-the-art knowledge in hydrology, hydraulics, sediment transport, morphodynamics, ecology as well as social sciences. Rivers are subject to different stressors, from weather extremes due to climate change, to human use in terms of drinking water, hydropower generation, navigation or recreation, while at the same time serving as important ecological habitats. Adequate sustainable development concepts bridging the gap between these demands are found in many projects implemented recently, such as floodplain preservation and restoration, drought management concepts, side-channel reconnection, or removal of dams and other hard hydraulic structures to recreate habitats and re-establish a river continuum.

This session targets the exchange of practical experience among policymakers, river managers, engineering consultants and other stakeholders involved in the development and restoration of rivers. We aim to combine several short presentations of recent projects with a moderated discussion on lessons learned and ideas for the path forward.

Program Outline:

Hydropower potential in the EU without additional barriers

Emanuele Quaranta, European Commission Joint Research Centre

TBA

Maria Ulargui Aparicio, OpenHydro

Upgrading European Hydropower for future needs

Herfried Harreiter, Verbund