RevHydro
European-funded project committed to revolutionise hydropower refurbishment by developing innovative equipment for increased efficiency and resilience at low cost.
The innovations comprise flow and fish control devices. A circular design approach minimises costs and environmental impact, ensuring compliance with water quality standards and biodiversity conservation. Through this project, we are committed to sustainable development goals, creating a holistic solution for efficient and eco-friendly hydropower refurbishment.
The RevHydro project will organize and support various dissemination and engagement activities
Aimed at promoting and integrating innovative solutions in the hydropower sector.
The materials and outcomes of the project will be made available to interested stakeholders to ensure widespread adoption and maximize the project’s impact.
These actions are designed to help partners and co-organizers disseminate the knowledge gained and drive the transformation of the hydropower sector through the application of circular economy principles.
Check out the upcoming events or contact us to request available material or recordings of the event!
RevHydro Activities
- 1. National and International Workshops and Meetings: Regularly organized to share project advancements and innovations within the consortium and with third-party actors to promote cross-sectoral collaboration.
- 2. National Mentorship: The project will train and engage specialized mentors to provide coaching and technical assistance on the adoption of new methodologies for turbine maintenance and refurbishment, rooted in sustainability and circular economy principles.
- 3. Thematic Webinars: A series of webinars will present detailed information about advanced turbine analysis methods, such as CFD/FEA simulations for fatigue and structural resilience evaluation, as well as innovative flow control solutions.
- 4. Thematic Factsheets: To be developed for synthesizing and providing key information on the introduced innovations, including the RFC (runner flow control) and DFC (draft tube flow control) systems, offering environmentally friendly and sustainable refurbishment solutions.
- 5. Thematic Events and Open Seminars: Organized to discuss the implications for sustainability, energy efficiency, and biodiversity conservation through implemented technologies.
RevHydro on Social Media and Open Resources
The project will utilize multiple communication channels, including dedicated websites and social media platforms, to ensure continuous and accessible updates:
Funded by the European Union
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Read more
Events
REVHYDRO Consortium Meeting Held in Sion, Switzerland
REVHYDRO Consortium Meeting Held in Sion, Switzerland
The REVHYDRO consortium meeting took place at HES – Campus Energypolis in Sion, Switzerland, bringing together all project partners for a productive exchange on the progress achieved so far and the next steps planned within the project. During the meeting, partners presented their latest activities, discussed the results obtained across the different work packages, and shared updates on the ongoing research and implementation tasks. Each partner had the opportunity to contribute to the discussions, providing a clear overview of the current stage of the project and the activities planned for the next implementation period. The working sessions focused on reviewing project progress, aligning future actions, and strengthening collaboration among consortium members. Discussions also addressed the next steps required to support the integration of circular economy principles into the hydropower sector, in line with the overall objectives of the REVHYDRO project.
The meeting was attended by all REVHYDRO partners: Luleå University of Technology, RESCOLL, INCDIE ICPE-CA – National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, Haute Ecole Specialisée de Suisse Occidentale, GE Vernova, EDF, and CNR – Compagnie Nationale du Rhône. The consortium meeting also provided a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange, open dialogue, and coordination between academic, research, and industry partners. Through these collaborative discussions, the partners continued to define practical pathways for achieving the project objectives and supporting a more sustainable and resource-efficient hydropower sector. We sincerely thank Michel Cervantes, REVHYDRO project coordinator, for his guidance and continued support throughout the project. We also express our gratitude to the hosts at HES – Campus Energypolis, as well as to Aline Dayer, Cécile Munch, and Véronique Marchisio, for the warm welcome, excellent organization, and support in making this meeting possible.
Through the continued involvement of all partners, REVHYDRO advances its mission of contributing to a more circular, sustainable, and resource-efficient future for hydropower.
Upcoming Event: Hydropower, Circular Economy and Energy Security
📍 10/02/2026
📅 Splaiul Unirii no. 313, ICPE-CA Building, J Wing, 3rd Floor, Conference Room, Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania
We are pleased to announce the upcoming workshop “Hydropower, Circular Economy and Energy Security: Policies, Technologies and Financing”, to be held on 10 February 2026 in Bucharest, Romania.
The event will bring together hydropower operators, technical experts, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders for an in-person, practice-oriented exchange on the modernization of hydropower systems in the context of the transition towards a circular economy.
The workshop will provide a dedicated space for open dialogue on key challenges and opportunities facing the hydropower sector, with a focus on public policies, technological solutions, climate resilience and available financing instruments.
Objectives of the workshop
The event aims to:
address real operational, maintenance and refurbishment challenges encountered in hydropower plants;
discuss technical, economic and circularity-related aspects supporting informed decision-making;
explore the role of digitalisation and emerging technologies in improving efficiency and reducing operational costs;
facilitate thematic group work to formulate recommendations and action pathways for the 2026–2030 period.
The workshop format encourages interactive discussions and experience sharing. No prepared presentations or disclosure of sensitive information will be required; examples discussed may be general or anonymised.
Practical information
Date: 10 February 2026
Format: In-person workshop
Location: Splaiul Unirii no. 313, ICPE-CA Building, J Wing, 3rd Floor, Conference Room, Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania
Registration
Participants are kindly requested to confirm their attendance by completing the registration form available at:
🔗 https://forms.gle/zUrsDrhZPFxqCfwS6
For further information, please contact:
📧 office@ircem.ro
We look forward to welcoming you to this applied discussion on the future of hydropower systems in the context of the circular economy and energy security.
Circular Economy in Hydropower Workshop
Period: April 2026 Participants: industry representatives, policy makers, academics
Material and Adhesive Characterization Workshop
Period: April 2026 Participants: Researchers, project partners, industry stakeholders
Runner Flow Control (RFC) Workshop Development
Period: October 2025 Participants: Project engineers, researchers, stakeholders
RevHydro Helpdesk
The RevHydro Helpdesk provides dedicated support for stakeholders engaged in the project, focusing on queries related to innovative hydropower refurbishment solutions.
This includes guidance on the implementation of circular economy principles, technical assistance with numerical simulations (CFD/FEA), understanding new technologies such as RFC and DFC systems, and addressing biodiversity concerns with the I-Fish barrier.
The helpdesk covers explanations on project methodologies, validation processes, sustainability criteria, and best practices in hydropower maintenance and operation to ensure optimal performance and ecological impact reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find answers to the most common questions about the RevHydro project.
Click to see details
Mentors
Our mentors are equipped to support industry professionals, policymakers, and researchers.
Click to see details
Factsheets
RevHydro is committed to revolutionizing the hydropower sector through sustainable practices and innovations tailored to local needs and conditions. RevHydro has developed a series of comprehensive factsheets that outline key solutions and methodologies to improve hydropower turbine efficiency, extend operational life, and integrate circular economy principles.
Additional factsheets detail the main technological advances, such as polymer-based extensions for turbine optimization, fish guidance technologies, and strategies for integrating environmental sustainability into operations.
Key Factsheets:
Innovative Turbine Refurbishment Techniques
Biodiversity and Fish Guidance Solutions
Circular Economy and Sustainability in Hydropower
Webinars
Date: TBD
Join our webinars to learn how to apply these cutting-edge solutions effectively and understand governance models that promote circular economy, collaborative engagement and sustainability in the hydropower sector.
Date: TBD
Join us for the Hydropower Innovation Essentials webinar, an in-depth exploration of pioneering strategies and methodologies aimed at modernizing and enhancing the sustainability of hydropower systems.
