HYDRO4U - H2020 EU

Program: Horizon 2020, EU Research and Innovation Programme 
Grant Agreement No: 101022905 
Implementation period: June 2021 – May 2026 
Budget: approx. €10 million 
Coordinator: Technical University of Munich (Germany) 
Project website: hydro4u.eu

About the Project
KSTU named after I. Razzakov is participating in the implementation of the international Hydro4U project, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme. The project aims to adapt European small hydropower technologies to Central Asian conditions and demonstrate their viability within the water–food–energy–climate nexus. Two demonstration plants have been selected: a low-head eco-friendly run-of-river plant in the At-Bashy district (Kyrgyzstan) and a medium-head diversion plant in Shakimardan (Uzbekistan).
KSTU participates in several work packages of the project, particularly in the replication of sustainable small hydropower potential and dissemination activities. Since 2021, KSTU has annually hosted the international summer school "HydroKG" on hydropower, ecology, and hydromorphology.

Participants
The project consortium includes 13 partners from 8 countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Key partners:

• Technical University of Munich (Germany) — coordinator
• ILF Consulting Engineers (Austria)
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences BOKU (Austria)
• International Water Management Institute IWMI (Sri Lanka)
• Steinbeis Europa Zentrum (Germany)
• GlobalHydro (Austria)
• CARTIF (Spain)
• Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov

Main Goals

• Demonstrating European small hydropower technologies in Central Asia
• Developing a replication model to address the full small hydropower potential in the region
• Contributing to the green energy transition and reducing CO₂ emissions
• Improving energy security in remote areas
• Advancing international cooperation within the water–food–energy–climate nexus
• Developing academic programmes and courses on sustainable hydropower

Results

• Two small hydropower demonstration plants installed in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
• Online decision support tool HydroPlan-CA developed for small hydropower planning
• Annual international summer schools "HydroKG" held at KSTU with students from Europe and Kyrgyzstan
• Analysis of sustainable small hydropower potential in Central Asia published