How Austria’s ILF Engineers Are Powering the Global Hydropower Boom

From Alpine Dams to Australian Pumped Storage, a 45-Year Legacy

In the heart of Europe, where over 60% of Austria’s electricity flows from hydropower, ILF Consulting Engineers has spent 45+ years mastering the art of water-driven energy. With 800+ employees in Austria alone, the firm has become a quiet powerhouse in run-of-river schemes, high-head storage plants, and pumped storage hydropower (PSH)—critical tech for balancing renewable grids. “Hydropower isn’t just about megawatts; it’s about integrating wind and solar,” says an ILF project lead, pointing to their work on Austria’s Stanzertal plant and megaprojects in the UK and Australia.

“The San José Declaration isn’t a slogan—it’s our blueprint. Every project must prove its sustainability or it doesn’t get built.” — ILF sustainability report, 2024

ILF’s recent membership in the International Hydropower Association (IHA) signals a push to standardize green practices globally. Their projects now align with UN Sustainable Development Goals, from minimizing river disruption to protecting biodiversity. Case in point: their EU-compliant designs, which face stricter environmental and social standards than many global competitors. Meanwhile, the Spring 2025 issue of Energy Global highlights why such rigor matters—Europe’s negative electricity prices reveal a grid desperate for storage, where PSH acts as a “green battery.”

As Australia and the UK bet big on PSH to stabilize their renewable transitions, ILF’s decades of Alpine expertise position it as an unlikely export. The challenge? Scaling sustainability beyond Austria’s mountain streams. “The Alps taught us how to work with nature, not against it,” says an engineer. “Now we’re teaching the world.”