Small Hydropower in a Container.

Game-changing technology.

The Francis Container Solution (FCS) is engineered for flexible deployment in decentralized energy systems such as microgrids and off-grid hydropower sites. With a modular design, high-quality components, and intelligent system integration, the Francis Container Solution delivers up to 1 MW - ideal for sustainable electrification in infrastructure-poor or remote regions.

Field test success: Shakimardan as a demonstration site.

The project in Shakimardan, Uzbekistan, exemplifies the success of this approach. Originally initiated in the 1980s and left incomplete, this partially developed hydropower site offered the ideal environment to test the modular approach under real-world conditions.

Within just four years, the project advanced from site selection and permitting to full commissioning - an exceptionally short timeline that underscores the strong coordination, agility, and problem-solving capacity of the entire team.

Engineered by Global Hydro.

In-house development with decades of turbine design expertise: The Francis Three-Container Solution is a pioneering concept fully developed and implemented by Global Hydro. Two containers house the Francis turbines, each delivering 1 MW of rated output, while a third container integrates the complete electromechanical system, including a medium-voltage switchgear. This marks a milestone in compact hydropower design, with all core components pre-assembled for rapid deployment.
A further advantage of this setup is its ability to operate in island mode, entirely independent from a central grid. This makes it particularly well-suited for remote or infrastructure-poor regions, enabling self-sufficient, reliable, and decentralized power generation.

Today, the container units are fully operational and efficiently integrated into the existing infrastructure at Shakimardan. The system handles a total rated flow of 3.2 m³/s, with provisions to maintain environmental flow in the dewatered section. With a gross head of around 100 meters, the hydropower plant delivers about 2 MW of rated capacity.

Despite the extreme winter conditions of the region, the plant maintains up to one-third of its output during the coldest months. Over the course of a year, the site is expected to produce approximately 13 GWh of clean, renewable energy. The project sets a benchmark for combining innovative containerized technology with existing structures to create a highly efficient and scalable hydropower solution for remote, hard-to-access areas.

Driving clean energy in Central Asia.

Hydro4U is a pioneering initiative funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Coordinated by the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the project brings together 13 partners from 8 countries, all working toward one shared goal: promoting sustainable small-scale hydropower in Central Asia.
The region holds significant but largely untapped hydropower potential, particularly in mountainous and infrastructure-poor areas such as Uzbekistan’s Shakimardan enclave. Outdated infrastructure, underinvestment, and climate risks have long slowed progress. Hydro4U tackles these issues with modular, low-impact technologies that are quick to install, easy to operate, and resilient in extreme conditions.

But Hydro4U is more than a technology initiative. It serves as a showcase for comprehensive European hydropower expertise. This collaboration demonstrates not only advanced turbine solutions, but also holistic approaches to hydropower development - addressing ecological integration like fish migration, infrastructure design, and local socio-economic needs.

By transferring this broad spectrum of EU know-how to Central Asia, Global Hydro as part of Hydro4U aims to set new sustainability standards, open up new markets, and strengthen the role of EU technology in global energy transitions.

Innovation meets experience.

As a key industrial partner, Global Hydro plays a crucial role in the Hydro4U project:

• Developer of the Francis Container Solution (FCS).
• Responsible for design, manufacturing, installation, and on-site integration.
• Pioneer in the concept of compact and automated small-scale hydropower plants that minimize environmental impacts and are designed for low-maintenance operation.

Political Visibility: EU Delegation Visit in Shakimardan.

The significance of the Hydro4U project extends well beyond technical innovation. In a strong signal of international cooperation and political support, a delegation of 13 EU Ambassadors and representatives from the embassies of multiple EU Member States visited the demonstration site in Shakimardan as part of a regional tour through Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley. The site visit highlighted the EU’s commitment to promoting sustainable energy transitions in Central Asia and served as a recognition of Hydro4U’s contribution to this goal.

Accompanied by project partners from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME), the delegation was guided through the facility by the project coordinator from the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The visit offered insight into the project's rapid development timeline, its technical milestones, and the broader regional relevance of modular, sustainable hydropower.

A blueprint for the future of small-scale hydropower.

With the Francis Container Solution, Global Hydro is setting a new standard for cost-efficient, scalable, and sustainable small-scale hydropower. The Shakimardan installation proves that decentralized renewable energy systems can be both technically robust and economically viable - anywhere in the world.

This Francis Container Solution is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the grant agreement No 101022905.