On 22–23 September 2025, PEN@Hydropower and the EERA Joint Programme on Hydropower co-hosted a Knowledge Symposium on Hydropower Research Gaps and a strategic round table, bringing together joung researchers, academics and industry experts from across Europe. Held in Trondheim, the two-day event served as a platform to explore how hydropower can strengthen Europe’s clean energy transition through targeted research and innovation.

Over the course of four thematic sessions, the symposium addressed some of the most pressing challenges facing hydropower today:

• Flexibility & Storage
• Environment & Biodiversity
• Climate Change & Mitigation 
• Critical Infrastructure & Resilience

These sessions explored how hydropower can respond to increasing demands for system flexibility, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience, while also addressing ageing infrastructure and integration with other energy systems.

The event featured presentations and discussions from a diverse panel of experts, including:

Nathan Veuthey, Elie Saroufim, Eduard Doujak, Sebastian Muntean, Wolf Ludwig Kuhn, Serhat Küçükali, Frida Niemi, Liv Randi Hultgreen, Maria Ubierna, Ritesh Patro, Jignesh Shah, Benjamin Graff, Tasniem Siegfried Jawaid, Daniel Patauner, Marko Hocevar, and Jochen Aberle.

Their insights sparked rich dialogue, underscoring both the complexity of the current landscape and the potential for hydropower to support a reliable and sustainable energy system in Europe.

This symposium exemplified the spirit of collaboration at the heart of both PEN@Hydropower and the EERA Joint Programme Hydropower, providing a space for knowledge exchange, alignment of research priorities, and the identification of key research gaps.

The discussions and connections made during the symposium lay the groundwork for future cooperation and research planning, notably with the ETIP Hydropower. The outcomes will inform strategic directions for upcoming research initiatives and help shape the role of hydropower in delivering Europe’s energy and climate goals. Stay tuned for our upcoming workshop in October, where we’ll build on the insights and momentum from this event.

EERA JP Hydropower remains committed to supporting collaborative research that strengthens Europe’s clean energy transition, and we look forward to building on the momentum created during this symposium.