Today, we are delighted to share our final interview with Eleni Tsironi, Project Coordinator of the D-HYDROFLEX project.
Eleni, welcome! We are delighted to close the #MeetTheD-HYDROFLEXTeam blog series with you. Over the course of this dissemination campaign, we have had the opportunity to introduce the 18 partners behind D-HYDROFLEX, highlighting the people, expertise and organisations contributing to the project’s vision for more flexible, resilient and sustainable hydropower.
As the project and our campaign come to an end, we are pleased to have this final conversation with Eleni to reflect on the project’s journey, achievements and impact, as well as the work and collaboration behind them.
Q: Eleni, could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your role in D-HYDROFLEX?
A: My name is Eleni Tsironi, and I am a Senior Project Manager at UBITECH and the Coordinator of the D-HYDROFLEX project. My background is in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a focus on energy systems, and I have been working in European research and innovation projects for more than a decade.
Within D-HYDROFLEX, my role has been to oversee the overall implementation of the project, facilitate collaboration among the partners and ensure that the technical, administrative and financial activities remain aligned with the project’s objectives. At the same time, an important part of the Coordinator’s role is to maintain the common vision of the project and help the consortium work as one team.
Q: Looking back at the project, were your initial expectations fulfilled?
A: I believe that the project has largely fulfilled our initial expectations. D-HYDROFLEX brought together hydropower operators, research organisations and technology providers with different areas of expertise, but with a shared objective: to support more flexible, efficient and sustainable hydropower operation through innovative digital solutions.
Throughout the project, we progressed from the initial concepts and requirements towards the development, integration and validation of the proposed tools and methodologies. Equally important, we created a strong collaborative environment in which technical knowledge, operational experience and different perspectives could come together.
Of course, not everything followed the exact path that we had originally planned. This is normal in a complex research and innovation project. However, the consortium was able to adapt, address the challenges that emerged and remain focused on the project’s main objectives.
Q: What would you highlight as the main achievement of D-HYDROFLEX?
A: For me, one of the project’s most important achievements is the connection it created between technological innovation and the real operational needs of the hydropower sector.
The project was not only about developing individual digital tools. It was also about understanding how these tools can work together and how they can provide useful information and support to hydropower operators.
Another important achievement is the cooperation established among partners from different disciplines. The project combined expertise in hydropower operation, digital technologies, data analysis, environmental assessment and energy systems. Bringing all these perspectives together was essential for developing solutions that are technically advanced but also relevant and applicable in practice.
Q: What were the main challenges you faced as Coordinator, and how did you address them?
A: One of the main challenges was coordinating a technically complex project involving different organisations, technologies and demonstration environments. Each pilot site has its own characteristics, available data, operational constraints and priorities. At the same time, many project activities are interconnected, meaning that delays or changes in one area can affect several other tasks.
We addressed these challenges through regular communication, close monitoring of the project’s progress and, most importantly, transparency among the partners. Whenever an issue emerged, we tried to discuss it openly, understand its impact and agree on a realistic way forward.
As Coordinator, I believe it is important not only to follow the work plan but also to create an environment in which partners feel comfortable raising concerns early and asking for support when needed.
Q: How would you describe the cooperation within the consortium?
A: The cooperation within the D-HYDROFLEX consortium has been very constructive. The partners brought different expertise, organisational cultures and working approaches, which naturally required coordination and continuous communication.
What I particularly appreciated was the willingness of the partners to contribute beyond their individual tasks, exchange knowledge and support one another when challenges arose. A successful consortium is not one that never encounters difficulties, but one that is able to address them collectively.
As Coordinator, I am proud of the trust that was gradually established within the consortium and of the commitment demonstrated by the partners throughout the project.
Q: What impact do you expect D-HYDROFLEX to have on the wider energy ecosystem?
Hydropower already plays an important role in the European energy system, particularly because of its ability to provide flexibility and support grid stability. This role will become even more important as higher shares of variable renewable energy sources are integrated into the electricity system.
D-HYDROFLEX contributes to this transition by exploring how digitalisation, improved data use and advanced decision-support tools can help hydropower plants operate more efficiently, flexibly and sustainably.
The project’s long-term impact will depend on how its results are further used, adapted and taken up by the sector. However, I believe that D-HYDROFLEX has contributed valuable knowledge, practical experience and technological foundations that can support the continued digital transformation of hydropower.
Q: What is the main lesson you will take with you from the project?
A: The main lesson for me is that successful project coordination is not only about procedures, deadlines and reporting. It is mainly about connecting people, creating trust and helping everyone remain focused on a shared objective.
Complex innovation projects inevitably face changes and unexpected challenges. What makes the difference is the ability of the consortium to adapt without losing sight of the project’s overall vision.
D-HYDROFLEX has also confirmed that meaningful innovation requires close cooperation between researchers, technology developers and the people who understand the day-to-day reality of hydropower operation.
Q: As D-HYDROFLEX comes to an end, is there any final message you would like to share?
Although D-HYDROFLEX is reaching the end of its funded period, I hope that its results, collaborations and ideas will continue beyond the formal lifetime of the project.
I would like to sincerely thank all consortium partners for their commitment, expertise and cooperation throughout this journey.
Coordinating D-HYDROFLEX has been a demanding but very rewarding experience. I am proud of what we have achieved together, and I hope that the project’s results will contribute to a more flexible, digital and sustainable future for the European hydropower sector.
Thank you, Eleni, for being with us today and for sharing your experience as the Coordinator of D-HYDROFLEX.
With this final interview, the #MeetTheD-HYDROFLEXTeam blog series comes to an end. Throughout the campaign, we have introduced the people behind the project and highlighted the expertise, commitment and collaboration of its 18 partners.
Meet the D-HYDROFLEX team and discover their stories by visiting our blog page
Learn more on D-HYDROFLEX project here.
Please subscribe here to our newsletter to keep updated on our latest activities.
