VIENNAHYDRO 2024
22nd International Seminar on Hydropower Plants
What an incredible event! From November 13-15, 2024, the 22nd International Seminar on Hydropower Plants, hosted in Laxenburg near Vienna, brought together industry experts to exchange experiences and shape the future of hydropower in Europe. As a proud sponsor of this prestigious event, ANDRITZ made a strong impact through active participation and technical presentations, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and diversity.
Technical excellence on display
ANDRITZ delivered six impactful presentations on topics such as variable speed unit control, pumped storage developments, safety concepts for steel penstocks, neural network applications in turbine operations, and hybrid battery technology.
This year marked also the debut of a grid stability session; a critical topic increasingly relevant as the energy sector evolves. The high interest and enthusiastic participation underscored a shared industry commitment to addressing the challenges of maintaining modern grids.
Diversity and inclusion in focus
ANDRITZ’s dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion was prominently showcased during the session “Diversity in Hydropower: From Facts to Actions.” Keynote speeches on the company’s inclusion journey were held and we also joined a panel on women in hydropower. The session highlighted the gender gap in the sector, inspiring action to foster diverse perspectives for better solutions.
“This event provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and networking, right on the doorstep of our Viennese hydropower headquarters,” said Jens Päutz, Head of Corporate Communications at ANDRITZ Hydropower. “It was an honor to participate and meet industry professionals from across Europe for open-minded discussions about hydropower’s role in shaping Europe’s energy future.”
A big thank you to all the speakers and attendees for making this event a success! Looking forward to the next edition.
ANDRITZ Hydropower members of the international Scientific and Organizing Committee.
Günther Reise, Vienna/Austria
Speakers of ANDRITZ Hydropower:
- Alois Lechner on dynamic control of variable speed units in turbine mode.
- Matthias Pairits addressing challenges and new developments for electrical protection systems in pumped storage power plants.
- Johann Erhard on upgrading Isogyre-type pump turbines at Malta Oberstufe.
- Claudia Pollak-Reibenwein proposing harmonized safety concepts for steel penstocks.
- Serdar Kadam showcasing enhanced operational flexibility with Hybrid Battery Technology.
- Wolfgang Hofbauer estimating states of a hydro turbine with neural networks.
- Theresa Obernhuber and Fernanda Brunetto “Inclusion in Hydropower From Facts to Action”
Picture gallery from the event: