In Episode 0 of the Di-Hydro Podcast, we took a step back in time to explore how hydropower has accompanied human progress for thousands of years — from ancient water wheels to the first hydroelectric plants. With Episode 1, the journey continues; this time firmly rooted in the present and looking toward the future.

What is Di-Hydro about?

In Episode 1, we are joined by Dr. Alkiviadis Tromaras, Project Coordinator of Di-Hydro and researcher at Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH).

During the episode, Alkiviadis takes the listener to the core of Di-Hydro and its ambition: to modernise hydropower plants across Europe through digitalisation, making them more efficient, resilient, and better prepared for the challenges posed by climate change. Rather than focusing on technical details, the conversation breaks down complex concepts into simple ideas. For instance, the project coordinator explains how digital tools can help hydropower plants observe, understand, and anticipate what is happening inside their systems.

A Digital “nervous system” for Hydropower

The central theme in Episode 1 is the role of digital tools in hydropower modernisation. During the episode, Di-Hydro Coordinator Alkiviadis discusses concepts such as sensors, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Twins. Specifically, using intuitive metaphors, he explains what these digital tools can do to improve hydropower infrastructures.  Sensors become the “eyes and ears” of a hydropower plant, while AI acts as the “brain” that interprets data. Finally, Digital Twins allow operators to test scenarios safely before acting in the real world. Together, these technologies support smarter operation and maintenance decisions. In fact, these tools can be crucial in helping prevent failures, reduce downtime, and optimise energy production, even under increasingly variable environmental conditions.

Real-world testing across Europe

Di-Hydro is not just desk research. Episode 1 also highlights how these digital solutions are being tested in real hydropower plants through three Use Cases in:

• Greece, focusing on plant monitoring, predictive maintenance, and digital twins;

• Italy, where AI-based models support water inflow forecasting;

• Serbia, where environmental and biodiversity monitoring plays a central role;

These diverse settings allow the Di-Hydro Team to validate its tools under different operational and environmental conditions, ensuring solutions that can be replicated across Europe.

Bridging past and future with Digital Tools

To sum up, Episode 1 builds a clear bridge between the long history of hydropower and its digital future. It shows that innovation in hydropower is not about replacing existing infrastructure, but about enhancing it with intelligence, ensuring that this renewable energy source remains reliable, flexible, and sustainable for decades to come.

Curious to learn more about digital technologies in hydropower? Listen to Episode 1 of the Di-Hydro Podcast on YouTube and discover how digitalisation is transforming hydropower from the inside.

Stay tuned — upcoming episodes will dive deeper into the technologies and people behind Di-Hydro, exploring how digital innovation is being turned into real-world impact.