EURELECTRIC and VGB announce strengthened cooperation on hydropower representation in Brussels

News Article

 

EURELECTRIC and VGB PowerTech have announced today that they will strengthen their cooperation in the field of hydropower generation at the European level.

Hydropower is still the frontrunner in renewable energy production in Europe (EU-28), with an annual electricity production of more than 375 TWh and an installed capacity of around 150 GW (about 13% of the total production and capacity). Yet despite being a strong European asset, it is not always considered as a strategic technology in the energy transition.

“Hydropower is clean, cheap and reliable. And its ability to act as energy storage makes it a perfect partner for variable renewables such as wind and solar. It is important that Europe taps the full potential of hydropower for the energy transition” said EURELECTRIC Secretary General, Kristian Ruby.

Hans Bünting, Chairman VGB PowerTech, added, “With the cooperation between EURELECTRIC and VGB we strengthen the technical and strategical role of hydropower in Europe. With the outstanding expertise of our members, we will support the successful role of small-scale to large-scale hydropower plants as an essential and central element of the energy supply system of the future.”

Hydropower lies at a crossroads of different policies ranging from water management to decarbonised electricity generation, as well as other environmental and planning policies. A number of key challenges therefore arise as hydropower seeks to balance these sometimes conflicting objectives.

The comprehensive expertise of the two associations will provide the basis to ensure proper representation of hydropower at the European level, with EURELECTRIC focussing on the political advocacy and VGB providing technical analysis and research.

 

Background:

EURELECTRIC is the sector association which represents the common interests of the electricity industry at pan-European level.

VGB PowerTech e.V. is the international technical association for generation and storage of power and heat. Its 478 members from 34 countries represent a power generation capacity of 466,000 MW, including 100,000 MW in the renewables segment. VGB connects expertise and services in the fields of technology, operation, environmental and climate protection as well as operational and maintenance management for all types of power generation. The technological field “VGB | Hydro” provides Europe’s largest platform for hydropower operators, as well as for hydropower equipment manufacturers and service providers for hydroelectric facilities.

 

Contacts:

EURELECTRIC:         Anamaria Olaru
                                   Press & Media Relations
                                   Tel: +32 483 45 92 42
                                   E-mail: aolaru@eurelectric.org

VGB PowerTech e.V.:      Dipl.-Ing. Christopher Wesselmann
                                          Press and Information
                                          Tel: +49 201 8128-300
                                          E-mail: pr@vgb.org
                                          Web: www.vgb.org