For decades, hydropower has served as the bedrock of Europe's renewableenergy landscape. lt remains the second-largest renewable energy source inthe EU, generating an impressive 375 TWh of electricity annually.' However,hydropower's strength lies in its unparalleled flexible electricity generation andstorage capacity. lt provides all the services needed for safe and stable gridoperation, making it by far the most crucial dispatchable renewable electricitysource in the EU.But hydropower is much more, offering numerous additional advantages tosociety, the economy and the environment.