The Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering at the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest and WALDEVAR Floating PV have signed a strategic partnership designed to accelerate innovation in renewable energy and prepare the next generation of specialists in floating photovoltaic technologies.
The partnership marks a national and European first: WALDEVAR Floating PV is the first company in Europe to own a facility dedicated exclusively to the production of floating photovoltaic systems — a true research and development hub for this innovative clean energy technology. The future factory will also serve as a dedicated centre for research and innovation, harnessing unused water surfaces for clean energy generation while reducing water evaporation and improving aquatic environmental quality. The partnership with the Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering reinforces this vision by bringing academic expertise in water science and hydraulic engineering into the equation. Through this alliance, academia and industry unite to address the current challenges of the energy transition, combining the academic excellence of the Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering with the cutting-edge technological experience of WALDEVAR Floating PV.
As part of the partnership, joint promotional activities will be organised in the areas of water protection, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development, through site visits, workshops, and informal meetings — both within the faculty and at a national level. Voluntary activities will also be carried out with the participation of students, academic staff, and WALDEVAR Floating PV personnel.
Particular emphasis will be placed on initiating and conducting joint scientific research projects, with outcomes published in specialised journals of international standing. On the practical side, WALDEVAR Floating PV will implement an internship programme for final-year students and will serve as a professional placement partner for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, contributing to the development of the company’s future specialists.
“This partnership represents a solid bridge between academia and industry — precisely where real solutions to the challenges of our time are born. Floating photovoltaics opens a fascinating horizon at the intersection of water resources and renewable energy, a field in which the Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering has both a strong tradition and a clear vision. I am confident that together we will train specialists capable of rewriting the rules of green energy in Romania and across Europe,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Alexandru Dimache, Dean – Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering, stated.
“WALDEVAR Floating PV is building not just a factory, but an ecosystem for the energy future. We need brilliant minds, shaped by rigorous engineering and bold innovation — and that is the promise of this partnership with the Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering. Today’s students will become tomorrow’s innovators in the most dynamic sector of renewable energy. We welcome them to the WALDEVAR blue team, where water and sunlight write the future together,” Daniel Dragomir, Chief Operating Officer – WALDEVAR Floating PV, added.
Through this partnership, the Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering and WALDEVAR Floating PV aim to create a model of academic-industry collaboration capable of generating sustainable solutions for the energy future of Romania and Europe. Investment in education, research, and innovation forms the foundation of an intelligent energy transition — and floating photovoltaic energy thus becomes not only a technology of the future, but a tangible opportunity for sustainable development, professional training, and economic progress.
Weekly editor’s choice.

source