Role of Dams and Reservoirs in a Successful Energy Transition: Proceedings of the 12th Icold European Club Symposium 2023 (Ecs 2023, Interlaken, Switz

Today, new and unexpected challenges arise for Europe’s large array of existing dams, and fresh perspectives on the development of new projects for supporting Europe’s energy transition have emerged. In this context, the 12th ICOLD European Club Symposium has been held in September 2023, in Interlaken, Switzerland. The overarching Symposium theme was on the ＂Role of dams and reservoirs in a successful energy transition＂. The articles collected in this report book (consisting of a 250-page abstract book and a 1010-page full paper USB) cover the various themes developed during the symposium:

- Dams and reservoirs for hydropower

- Dams and reservoirs for climate change adaptation

- Impact mitigation of dams and reservoirs

- How to deal with ageing dams

In conjunction with the Symposium, the 75th anniversary of the Swiss Committee on Dams offered an excellent opportunity to not only draw from the retrospective of Switzerland’s extensive history of dam development, but to also reveal perspectives on the new role of dams for a reliable and affordable energy transition. These aspects are illustrated by several articles covering the various activities, challenges, and concerns of the dam community.

Robert Boes studied civil engineering in Germany and France, graduating from the Technical University of Munich in 1996. He then became a research engineer at ETH Zurich (Switzerland), obtaining a Doctorate in hydraulic engineering in 2000. After a postdoctoral research period at ETH Zurich, he joined in 2002 the Hydro Engineering Department of the Tyrolean Utility TIWAG in Innsbruck, Austria, where he was involved in various projects relating to hydropower schemes, hydraulics and flood protection and became head of the Dam Construction Group. In 2009, he was appointed Professor for Hydraulic Structures at ETH Zurich, where he directs the Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW). He is president of the Swiss Committee on Dams and a board member of the Swiss Association for Water Resources Management, and the Energy Science Center at ETH Zurich. As an expert with dam, hydropower and flood protection projects, he is involved in Switzerland and abroad. His research interests are mainly related to dam hydraulics and dam safety, reservoir sedimentation, sediment monitoring, sustainable hydropower, hydro-abrasive wear of hydraulic structures and machinery, as well as natural hazard mitigation and flood protection.

Patrice Droz is a civil engineer with more than 40 years of experience and a track record in dam design, rehabilitation and safety. He graduated at EPFL in 1982 and obtained a PhD, also at EPFL, in 1987. After a post-doc at Northwestern University, he oriented his activities towards consulting engineering, first at Bonnard & Gardel and then at Stucky, now Gruner, where he has been Technical Director for several years. He has been involved in many projects in Switzerland and worldwide, particularly in China, DR Congo, France, Georgia, Haiti, Iran, Kirghizistan, Libya, Morocco, Myanmar, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Zambia. Patrice Droz is currently expert for the safety of four large dams in Switzerland and member of the technical committee on ＂Integrated Operation of Hydropower Stations and Reservoirs＂ of the International Commission on Large Dams. Besides his activities as consulting engineer, he has been teaching ＂Water Resources Management＂ at EPFL for 20 years. Presently, as independent consultant, he is involved in the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project in Lao PDR, a project financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Raphaël Leroy is an expert in hydropower generation, and was previously head of the civil engineering & environment unit at Alpiq SA, Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1987, he graduated in civil engineering and hydraulics from the University of Liège, Belgium. As a project manager, Raphaël Leroy was involved in several major construction and rehabilitation projects for hydraulic structures and dams. (Hongrin-Léman pumped-storage scheme, Les Toules, Salanfe, Cleuson). He is also in charge of surveillance of some Alpiq Group dams. Raphaël Leroy was a lecturer on a postgraduate course in engineering and geology at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. He is vice-president and member of several working groups within the Swiss National Committee for Dams. He is also a member of the Comité M working group of ICOLD (operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of dams).