World Hydropower Congress online event - Smart hydropower: extending power system flexibility

Join us at the World Hydropower Congress online event on Friday, 17 September 2021 at 1200 - 1400 GMT+1 for an update on the XFLEX HYDRO project. Registration to the session and the Congress event is free.

With the rapid rise of wind and solar energy, dramatic increases in variable renewable energy are expected to cause much higher volatility in the global electricity system. Hydropower already plays an important role in supporting the grid, but trends suggest that there will be even greater need for flexible and controllable power supply over the coming decades.

Smarter technologies are now available to equip hydro plants for the challenges ahead – improving fast-response power, efficiency, availability, and digitalising systems. Innovative approaches can optimise performance of hydro assets, while also ensuring they can compete in new and evolving electricity markets. Building a wider understanding of the types of technology options and benefits achievable will help inform future investments in both new and existing hydro projects.

XFLEX HYDRO is an EU-funded consortium of industry and research partners piloting new technologies and methods to enhance hydropower’s operational flexibility. Drawing on the European demonstration sites, organisations involved in XFLEX HYDRO will present the opportunities and progress achieved through the project.

This session will give an overview of the innovative technologies and approaches, their key performance indicators, and further insights into the market benefits and costs.