From 15 to 18 June 2026, Sion became the hub for the future of hydropower. The Hydro Alps Lab and the Haute École d’Ingénierie co-organised the 4th meeting of the European ReHydro consortium. The aim of these four days, spent between the Aula in Sion and the peaks of the Gougra, was to transform existing infrastructure into truly ultra-flexible and environmentally responsible pillars of the energy transition.
70 experts, 6 challenges, 1 industrial ambition
Co-ordinated by SINTEF and driven by the industry’s giants (EDF, Andritz, CNR, EDP, Lysis as well as several of our partners (as is usually the case), the ReHydro project does not merely theorise: it takes action. In front of nearly 70 researchers and industry leaders, the working groups tackled the realities of the energy market head-on. This meeting also marked an important milestone with the official conclusion of Work Package 3 («Fit for Market»), validating the project’s business models. The discussions highlighted three main areas of focus:
Maximum flexibility & hybridisation : How can pumped-storage hydroelectricity be combined with battery storage to respond instantly to market fluctuations?
Digital revolution : real-time monitoring of turbines and the creation of virtual power plants (VPPs) to enable predictive control and a drastic reduction in erosion.
Eco-engineering : advanced sediment modelling, precise management of hydropeaking (run-of-river operations) and bypass solutions for fish migration.
The Hydro Alps Lab takes centre stage
The plenary session on 16 June highlighted the local roots of these global innovations. Consortium members were able to immerse themselves in the heart of the Hydro Alps Lab during a guided tour, gaining a first-hand insight into our test benches and the applied research projects being carried out in Valais. This synergy between science and industry was praised by Mathias Gäumann, CEO of Hydro Exploitation, and Jonathan Fauriel (ALPIQ), who came to share their vision of academic collaborations for the retrofitting of tomorrow’s power stations.
From the laboratory to the concrete giants: An immersion at La Gougra
Because the energy transition is won on the ground, the consortium left the Energypolis campus for a major technical immersion at the Forces Motrices de la Gougra (FMG) facilities, where a project to raise the height of the structures is planned. From the inner workings of the Mottec and Vissoie power stations to the Moiry dam, participants were able to compare mathematical and economic models with the topographical, landscape and climatic realities of the Alps.
A key milestone for applied research and the future of the sector
This fourth meeting of the ReHydro consortium demonstrates that the modernisation of existing infrastructure requires a holistic approach. Discussions held in Sion confirm that energy engineering is no longer simply about generating kilowatt-hours, but about orchestrating a complex ecosystem in which industrial performance, grid flexibility, Big Data and environmental sustainability coexist. The results achieved in the various work packages pave the way for large-scale deployment phases at the various European demonstration sites.
To follow developments at the pilot sites and find out more about the scientific progress being made, visit the project’s official website: www.rehydro.eu.
