Current hydropower developments in Europe

Hydropower developments in Europe are impacted by economic, political and environmental boundary conditions. All involved players - from the energy supply companies to environmental organizations - have to remain flexible to the constant changes in the energy sector. To cope with these changes, integrated approaches considering demands for both (socio) economic and environmental sustainability as well as research and innovation in hydropower technology and management across national borders are needed. As a basis for discussing and developing plans for hydropower's future in Europe, this paper provides key statistics summarizing the current status of hydropower and reviews recent hydropower developments in terms of technological, environmental and economic challenges.