Prognosis of Ecosystem Services and Societal Benefits

Despite its significant contribution to energy security, hydropower plants (HPPs) can have negative impacts on river ecosystems. To minimise potential environmental and social effects, HPPs must ensure the quantity and quality of freshwater flows, known as environmental flows (e-flows). The SHERPA project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101172849, addresses one of the most pressing challenges in the modernisation of existing hydropower infrastructure: enabling turbines to operate efficiently under e-flow regimes.

To that end, SHERPA is developing innovative technologies, including advanced air
injection systems and new runner designs. A cross-cutting objective of the project
is to identify and assess the relationship between the expected changes driven by
these technological developments and their potential net positive impact on river
ecosystems, through the provision of ecosystem services and associated societal
benefits, as demonstrated through case studies.

This webinar aims to foster discussion between the technical team working on the
assessment of changes in ecosystem services and members of academia involved
in related EU projects. The goal is to capture leading-edge knowledge and showcase
SHERPA’s findings through a dedicated case study.