HYDRO 2007- New Approaches for a New Era

Following the first announcements in the past months about HYDRO 2007,  the Preliminary Bulletin and Call for Papers are now available. Key themes for the programme have been drawn up on the basis of feedback of our International Steering Committee, and also participants of HYDRO 2006 in Porto Carras. In recognition of the greater impetus for hydro development worldwide, the solid commitment of international financing agencies, and the larger number of hydro schemes now moving ahead in many parts of the world, we have made the theme of this year’s event ‘New Approaches for a New Era’. This means approaches from all sectors of the profession: greater sensitivity to environmental and social aspects, and how this is reflected in planning, design, communications and benefit sharing; refinements in technology to reduce costs, increase efficiency, enhance safety and protect the environment; new ways to maximize the benefits of existing and new hydro facilities; new approaches to financing, and experience with new strategies; and a number of other related topics. A number of important side events will run alongside HYDRO 2007:

• ICOLD’s Committee on Concrete, together with the Spanish National Committee of ICOLD, are organizing a Workshop on Alkali Aggregate Reaction in Dams, which take place on 18 and 19 October.
• The European Hydropower Association (ESHA) will also host a Small Hydro Workshop, and actively participate in the HYDRO 2007 Conference. In the alternate years between the biennial Hidroenergia events, our annual hydro conferences have become an ideal meeting point for ESHA members.
• There will also be the Second Workshop on Turbine Flow Measurement, following the first successful session on this theme during HYDRO 2004 in Porto.