Hydropower—A New Open Access Journal

Hydropower, the dominant source of renewable electricity generation, is essential for the development of low-carbon, robust power systems. Its function is no longer just that of an energy supplier but is increasingly moving towards becoming a major grid-stability and energy-storage contributor. This journal, Hydropower, was launched in response to the multifaceted challenges and prospects that this transformation brings—ranging from accommodating variable renewables and increasing the flexibility of pumped storage to reducing the environmental footprint and responding to climate change. It is our goal to publish top-tier research, innovative engineering designs, and visionary thinking that will define the sustainable future of hydropower.

Hydropower (ISSN 3042-8432) [1] is an international, open access journal dedicated to advancing research and innovation in hydropower technology. We aim to serve as a premier platform for interdisciplinary research by publishing high-quality original research articles, reviews, and technical communications that provide novel scientific or engineering contributions to all phases of hydropower development (from planning to refurbishment, upgrading, or decommissioning). Theoretical, numerical, and experimental research, AI-driven methodologies, and case studies are all welcome. There is no restriction on the maximum length of papers published in this journal.

The scope of this journal includes, but is not limited, to the following key areas:

• Bank slope stability
• Climate change impact, adaptation, and mitigation
• Design, maintenance, and optimization
• Digital twins
• Ecosystem conservation in hydropower development
• Emerging hydropower generation technologies
• Energy storage technologies
• Environmental impact, life cycle analysis, and sustainability
• Hybridization of hydropower with other technologies
• Safety monitoring
• Sediment, cavitation, and chemical erosion
• Risk assessment
• Water management

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and editors who made this first issue possible. We invite the global hydropower community to contribute valuable work to this journal and participate in fostering an active discussion that advances knowledge and practices in this critical field.