Hydropower sits at the heart of the water and energy nexus. It has played a crucial role in improving water and energy security and will continue to do so in future. Yet sustainable hydropower development remains a major challenge for the EU and China. The proposed action – Sustainable Hydropower Use and Integration in China and Europe (SHUI-ChE) – focused on hydropower development and operation. The aim of the action was to explore the following key opportunities to further develop and improve cooperation between China and Europe in the field of water policy. The topics included i) green standards on hydropower – from regulation to practice; ii) operational schemes for optimising the efficiency of small hydropower plants; iii) Pumped Storage Hydropower and comprehensive cost-benefit assessment; and iv) hydropower as an enabler for promoting regional energy integration and the transition to a renewable energy system.
