Revolutionising hydropower: The D-HYDROFLEX toolkit

D-HYDROFLEX has developed a state-of-the-art digital toolkit to address critical gaps in hydropower operation and maintenance.

The European energy system is navigating a pivotal transformation, driven by the pressing need for decarbonisation, security of supply and increased integration of renewables.

Hydropower, a cornerstone of renewable energy, faces challenges in adapting to these demands, such as improving operational flexibility and environmental sustainability while remaining competitive in evolving energy markets.

The solution

D-HYDROFLEX responds to these challenges with a toolkit designed to digitally ‘renovate’ existing hydroelectric power plants.

This innovation leverages:
• Sensors and digital twins for real-time monitoring and advanced simulations of dam and machinery operations.
• AI algorithms and cloud-edge computing to optimise performance and predictive maintenance.
• Hybridisation models integrating hydrogen storage and virtual power plant (VPP) operation for enhanced flexibility.
• Environmental monitoring tools ensuring biodiversity and ecosystem protection.

D-HYDROFLEX toolkit overview

The impact

By enabling more efficient and sustainable operations, the D-HYDROFLEX toolkit ensures hydropower continues to support Europe’s decarbonisation goals.

The toolkit’s flexibility features empower plants to act as dynamic assets in modern energy grids, supporting renewable energy integration and enhancing grid stability.

Real-world application

Validation of the D-HYDROFLEX solutions is underway at seven hydropower plants across five European countries, including France, Greece, Poland, Spain and Romania.

These demonstrations are providing diverse insights into the application of digital innovations across varied geographical and operational conditions.

Discover more about the D-HYDROFLEX project at d-hydroflex.eu.

About the author

Eleni Tsironi is Project Manager at UBITECH. She holds an integrated Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering, specialising in electric power systems. Actively involved in European R&D projects since 2013, she coordinated the H2020 projects FARCROSS and BEYOND and currently leads the Horizon Europe projects D-HYDROFLEX and DIGITISE, driving innovation in sustainable technologies and trust enhancing digital solutions.