Name of the Project
Hydropower Extending Power System Flexibility (XFLEX HYDRO) project.

Location
Over the next four years, XFLEX HYDRO innovations and technologies will be demonstrated at the Z’Mutt hydropower plant, in Switzerland; the Grand Maison and Vogelgrün hydropower plants, in France; and the Frades 2, Alqueva, Alto Lindoso and Caniçada hydropower plants, in Portugal.

Project Owner/s
The project comprises a consortium of 19 partners, including Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Alpiq, Andritz, Armines, Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, EDF Group, EDP Centre for New Energy Technologies, EDP Gestão da Produção da Energia, GE Renewable Energy, HES SO, International Hydropower Association, INESC TEC, Power Vision Engineering, SuperGrid Institute, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, University of Stuttgart, Voith Hydro and Zabala.

Project Description
XFLEX HYDRO is a major new energy innovation project that will demonstrate how smart hydro­power technologies can deliver a low-carbon, reliable and resilient power system required by variable renewables such as wind and solar power.

The technologies to be tested are enhanced variable- and fixed-speed turbine systems, smart controls and a battery-turbine hybrid, each of which will be demonstrated at hydropower plant sites across Europe.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
€18-million.

Planned Start/End Date
The project will conclude in 2023 by delivering a roadmap to increase the adoption of the tech­nologies across the hydropower fleet, with policy and market recommendations for governments, regulators and industry.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
International Hydropower Association, Will Henley, email will.henley@hydropower.org.