Unlocking Hydropower’s Potential: Retrofitting Infrastructure and Harnessing Unconventional Sources for Clean Energy Transitions

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Abstract Hydropower holds a pivotal role within the water-energy nexus for facilitating the clean energy transition, particularly in unconventional and retrofit opportunities. As a renewable energy source, hydropower contributes to decarbonizing the energy sector while simultaneously supporting water management objectives. By integrating hydropower generation into existing infrastructure such as water supply systems, weirs, irrigation networks, and wastewater treatment facilities, synergies can be leveraged to optimize resource utilization and enhance system resilience. This further offers some options for diversifying the electricity mix and speeding up the clean energy transition. However, the complex interaction between water availability and energy production necessitates careful planning and adaptive strategies to mitigate risks associated with climate variability and changing demand patterns. Unlocking the potential of hydropower through these unconventional and retrofitting opportunities is thus instrumental in advancing sustainability goals and ensuring the success of clean energy transitions in the face of various challenges. By leveraging existing infrastructure and exploring innovative solutions, countries stand to significantly enhance its energy resilience and reduce its carbon footprint. Moreover, such initiatives align with broader international objectives, including the Paris Agreement’s vision of transitioning to a zero-emission society by 2050 and the European Union’s FIT for 55 targets. Under these considerations, this paper seeks to explore the potential of retrofitting existing infrastructure and harnessing unconventional hydropower sources with examples in Czechia, South Africa and Türkiye to address electricity shortages, mitigate carbon emissions, and contribute to the broader clean energy transition agenda. The insights gained from this analysis can inform policy frameworks, investment strategies, and technological innovations aimed at fostering sustainable energy practices.