Symposium

Role of dams and reservoirs in a successful

energy transition
12th ICOLD European Club Symposium
75th anniversary of the Swiss Committee on Dams
Theme A
The Swiss Committee on Dams is happy to invite you to the
12th ICOLD European Club Symposium, which will be held
Dams and reservoirs for hydropower in Europe
from the 5th to the 8th of September 2023 in Interlaken. • Opportunity for energy generation and storage
Joining us will be a great opportunity to participate in the • Large-scale storage reservoirs Interlaken Tourismus Byline: swiss-image.ch/Jost von Allmen
festivities around the 75th anniversary of the Swiss • Pumped storage reservoirs
Committee on Dams, founded in 1948. • New energy potential (PV, …) Important deadlines
• Efficiency increase of existing schemes
Today, new and unexpected challenges arise for Europe’s
large array of existing dams, and fresh perspectives on the Registration is open !
development of new projects for supporting Europe’s energy Theme B
Dams and reservoirs for climate change … until July 31st, 2023
transition have emerged. These new challenges are at the
core of the themes proposed for development during the adaptation in Europe
Symposium. • Balancing extreme hydrological conditions Workshops
(floods, droughts)
The 75th anniversary of the Swiss Committee on Dams will • Protection against floods The following themes are proposed for the workshop
give an excellent opportunity to not only draw from the
• Protection against other natural hazards series, organised prior to the Symposium:
retrospective of Switzerland’s extensive history of dam
development, but to also reveal perspectives on the new role (mass movements, glacier lake outburst
of dams for a safer energy transition. This will be particularly floods, …) • Earthquakes and dams
commemorated in the Swiss Day sessions. • Irrigation and water supply • Hydraulics of dams
• Multipurpose dams • Special design topics: RCC and CFRD
A series of workshops in various domains of dam design and • Maintenance and rehabilitation of inverted
safety will be proposed prior to the Symposium. Theme C pendulums
Impact mitigation of dams and reservoirs in
A field visit to the construction site of the new Spitallamm
double curvature arch dam will give a flavour of the
Europe
challenges related to the construction of a new structure at • Environmental flows Book of proceedings
the foot of an existing one. • Sediment continuum
• Fish passage A book of proceedings, gathering the papers
We are eager to meet you in Interlaken in September! • Hydropeaking presented at the Symposium, will be edited and
• Greenhouse gas emissions distributed to each participant.
Robert Boes
President of the Swiss Committee on Dams
Theme D
How to deal with ageing dams in Europe
• Dam safety
• Upgrade and refurbishment
• Extension and renewal
• Incorporating new purposes
• Decommissioning
 Program outline Field trip and technical visits Venue

The Workshops and Symposium will take place in the

Sept. Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Congress Center Kursaal Interlaken, a fascinating venue
5 6 7 that offers all the facilities such an event needs and
deserves.
Symposium Symposium:
Opening 7th / 8th
sessions
Morning

Workshops Symposium: Symposium:

1st / 2nd 9th / 10th
sessions sessions
(parallel
sessions)

Technical Technical
exhibition; exhibition;
All day

exhibition of exhibition of Photo: David Birri

75th 75th • Spitallamm Dam construction

Anniversary Anniversary • Hydropeaking compensation basin
of Swiss CoD of Swiss CoD • Local river widening
Workshops Symposium: • Fish passage structures
and 3rd / 4th • Natural gorges in the Bernese Alps
Meetings* sessions
Afternoon

Swiss Day
sessions
Symposium:

5th / 6th
sessions

Appetizers Welcome 75th

Evening

reception anniversary
dinner
Accommodation

*European Club, Symposium Officers, European Club Interlaken offers a wide variety of hotel and accommodation
working Groups, Swiss Technical Committees Photo: David Birri possibilities. Numerous hotel rooms have been pre-reserved
for the comfort of all the participants.
and Registration fees
Information
Friday, Sept. 8 Symposium including Swiss Day CHF 750
Swiss Day only CHF 500 WEB site:
Additional fee for Workshop CHF 150 https://www.ecsymposium2023.ch
Field trip and technical visits Workshop, Symposium, Swiss Day Contact:
CHF 500
for Young Professionals (<35 years) Andrea Balestra, Secretary of the Swiss Committee on
Complementary fee for field trip CHF 120 Dams, swissdams@lombardi.group