SHUI-ChE Study Visit

Hydropower sits at the heart of water and energy nexus. It has played and will continue to play a critical role in enhancing both water and energy securities. Yet sustainable hydropower development remains a major common challenge for both EU and China. Centred with hydropower development and operation, the motivation of the proposed action – Sustainable Hydropower Use and Integration in China and Europe (SHUI-ChE), is to explore the following major opportunity spaces to further develop and enhance China Europe collaboration on water policy, including i) green standards on hydropower – from regulation to practice; ii) operational schemes for optimizing the efficiency of small hydropower; iii) Pumped Storage Hydropower and comprehensive cost and benefit assessment; and iv) hydropower as an enabler for promoting regional energy integration and transition to renewable energy system. Part of the work program is the exchange between EU and Chinese experts in the format of study visits. From 30.6.2019 to 5.7.2019 a Chinese delegation came to Austria and Italy to

• learn the EU approach on green hydropower (legal and management issues)
• visit implemented solutions on how energy production and nature conservation can go hand in hand
• visit hydromorphological measures that improve the status of a river, which has been impacted by hydropower generation.
• foster exchange between Austrian/Italian hydropower plant operators and Chinese hydropower experts
• show existing and innovative solutions for Pumped Storage Plants

The related PowerPoint presentations can be found here. (zip file)