In a rapidly changing energy landscape, infrastructure flexibility and sustainability have become major challenges. At Alpiq, we firmly believe that our hydroelectric facilities still hold untapped potential and that innovation is the key to unlocking it. That is why we are investing in ambitious research projects, working closely with universities, federal polytechnic schools and industrial partners.
Three questions for Martin Boden, project engineer at Alpiq
Why is Alpiq so heavily involved in research projects such as HydroLEAP?
Hydropower is at the core of our energy strategy, and it must evolve to stay competitive. Power plants need to respond quickly to grid fluctuations, especially with the increasing presence of intermittent renewables like solar and wind. By investing in research, we anticipate the future needs of the electricity system, enabling us to adapt swiftly to market changes, enhance the performance of our facilities, and ensure long-term security of supply. HydroLEAP has allowed us to test practical solutions in the field, delivering very promising results – thanks in large part to the invaluable support of Nicolas Rouge, Director of Forces Motrices Hongrin-Léman.
What are the most significant innovations to come out of the project?
I would highlight three key breakthroughs. First, the introduction of new hydraulic bypass modes, which provide greater operational flexibility during pumping. Second, the installation of anti-vortex screens on the pumps at the Veytaux I power station – a straightforward yet highly effective solution that has significantly reduced vibrations and enhanced equipment reliability. Lastly, the development of non-intrusive vibration monitoring, which paves the way for smarter, predictive maintenance. These innovations are immediately applicable and hold strong potential for adoption in other facilities.
So what are the next steps?
We are moving forward with implementing the new hydraulic short-circuit modes, making minor adjustments to the automation systems as needed. For the anti-vortex screens, we are considering extending their use to the other units at Veytaux I. The vibration monitoring system is already part of our predictive maintenance roadmap, integrated through the GuardHEX tool managed by HYDRO Exploitation. Alpiq and FMHL played a key role in the initial development of this tool as part of a pilot project – an excellent example of collaboration between various research and innovation initiatives.
HydroLEAP has also contributed to other research projects, such as ReHydro, a European initiative funded by the Horizon programme and launched in 2024, which examines the effects of sediment-laden glacial water erosion on turbines.
Martin Boden, project engineer at Alpiq
HydroLEAP is one such flagship initiative. Launched in 2020 and completed in 2025, the project has enabled us to test and validate practical solutions that enhance the flexibility, reliability, and sustainability of Swiss hydroelectric facilities. Co-financed by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), HydroLEAP builds on the European XFLEX Hydro project (Horizon Programme) and has brought together a broad network of partners, including EPFL, HES-SO, ETH Zurich, Hydro Exploitation, Forces Motrices Hongrin-Léman (FMHL), and Alpiq.
Specifically, the project aims to adapt existing power plants to boost their flexibility and resilience in response to the growing integration of renewable energies. It revolves around three major demonstrators: the FMHL pumped storage plants as well as the Ernen power plant and the Massongex–Bex–Rhône run-of-river power plant project through FMV (Forces Motrices Valaisannes). HydroLEAP combines the validation of new operating modes – such as hydraulic short-circuiting, battery-turbine hybridization, and advanced vibration monitoring – with the development of measures to reduce equipment wear and fatigue, alongside the modernization of EPFL’s test infrastructure. The project’s dual goals are to deliver concrete benefits for operators and to pave the way for new research into more flexible, sustainable, and efficient hydroelectricity.
Among the major breakthroughs demonstrated at FMHL are innovative hydraulic short-circuit operating modes, anti-vortex grids that minimize vibrations in certain pumps, vibration monitoring tools for early fault detection, and strategies to reduce machine fatigue during start-ups and shutdowns.
The project also enabled EPFL’s Hydraulic Machines Platform (PTMH) to fund the modernization of its pump-turbine test bench, located just 300 meters from our Lausanne offices. This technology is now gaining renewed interest both in Europe and worldwide, and remains a strategic priority for Alpiq.
To learn more, we spoke with Martin Boden, project engineer at Alpiq, who led several components of the HydroLEAP project.
