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 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.