Field Trip to Central Asia
Bavarian Expertise in Water Management and Energy
October 13, 2026
Water management and energy production face major challenges worldwide. The international exchange of knowledge, technologies, and experiences is therefore becoming increasingly important for developing sustainable solutions and better managing the consequences of climate change.
At the end of September, Prof. Dr. Oliver Mayer, Head of the Energy & Construction Network, therefore took part in a technical field trip to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The focus was on current projects and technical solutions in the fields of water management, irrigation, and energy generation. Among other things, the group toured facilities for river level monitoring and flow measurement, weir systems for diverting irrigation water, and a newly constructed shaft turbine—developed in Bavaria—with a capacity of 1.6 MW. The itinerary also included the associated steel hydraulic structures built by an Upper Bavarian company and a large 100-MW hydroelectric power plant on the Naryn River.
Together with representatives from the Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, the water management offices, and BayFOR, the delegation assessed study areas for EU-funded research projects that BayFOR supports during the application process and assists with implementation. For more information, please visit the WE-ACT and Hydro4U project pages.
This collaboration is of great importance to the Bavarian economy as well as to research and public administration. The technical exchange also provides valuable insights into the hydrology of Central Asia. These findings are relevant to Bavaria as well—particularly in light of advancing glacier retreat and its potential impacts on long-term water availability.
The field trip underscores the value of international cooperation in jointly developing solutions to the challenges of a changing water and energy sector.
Your Contact
Bayern Innovativ GmbH,