The Hidden Hydro Oscillating Power for Europe (H-HOPE) project was launched in 2022 under the European Union's Horizon Europe program and is a four-year project focusing on developing and demonstrating innovative energy harvesting systems for recovering hidden hydro energy from existing water infrastructure. Over the past year, the project has achieved remarkable progress in developing innovative energy harvesting systems. Led by Prof. Giovanna Cavazzini from the University of Padova, the consortium of 14 partners across 9 countries has reached several crucial milestones.
The H-HOPE project continues to demonstrate its potential for transforming water networks across Europe, focusing on developing energy harvesting systems up to TRL4 that can power IoT sensors in water and wastewater networks. This innovation aims to enhance the digitalization and efficiency of water management systems whilst contributing to the EU's renewable energy and environmental goals.
The first major breakthrough was achieved at the University of Padova where 1D modelling simulations have demonstrated mechanical efficiency levels of up to 62% for elastic-mounted cylinders with piezoelectric patches in piping systems. Additionally, the establishment of test rigs at Brno Technology University under the leadership of Prof. Pavel Rudolf and of piping systems under the leadership of Dr. Eduard Doujak at TU Wien marks a significant step forward in validating the technology for open-stream and piping applications.
The project has expanded its impact through the launch of the H-HOPE Learning Platform, offering comprehensive educational resources on topics ranging from 3D printing for water energy harvesters to advanced fluid dynamics modelling. This initiative supports the project's commitment to knowledge sharing and capacity building in sustainable energy technologies.
The consortium has also engaged extensively with stakeholders, hosting successful events including a policy workshop in Brussels to advance regulatory frameworks and participating in major international forums such as World Water Week and EU Sustainable Energy Week 2024.
The consortium will host its mid-term event, "Hidden Hydropower: Unlocking the Digitalization of Water Networks," on Thursday, April 10th, 2025, at the Palazzo della Salute in Padova, Italy. The event will start by presenting H-HOPE results and will also embrace a broader perspective featuring expert-panels addressing challenges in energy harvester design, energy sustainability, city resilience, and social sustainability, alongside live demonstrations of the prototype energy harvester. Participants can register here to explore risks, barriers, and strategies for upscaling hidden hydro technologies in water ecosystems.
As the project progresses towards its conclusion in October 2026, H-HOPE is well-positioned to deliver significant contributions to reducing CO2 emissions and increasing energy independence in the EU combined with boosting the resilience of water networks through innovative hydropower solutions and demonstrating the value of collaborative research in advancing sustainable energy technologies.