Professional Documents
Culture Documents
France Hydrolctricit
Kleinwasserkraft Oesterreich
Small Hydropower
Large Potential
Current challenges
SHP and its potential for Europe is often
overlooked and kept away from the
European and national policy agendas.
SHP can be negatively impacted by
environmental legislation in Europe, so
that it becomes more difficult to produce
renewable energy from water. It is however
a technology which can be used for water
management purposes.
SHP faces many administrative barriers
at national level, making it difficult for the
sector to be granted or to keep exploitation
licenses and to have an efficient access
to the electricity grid. The adaptation of
certain support schemes can have an
impact on the viability of the sector, in
particular when not being cost-based.
Recommendations
More consensus and cooperation is
needed in Europe between the energy and
environmental policies and actors.
European and national policy makers should
consider SHP as an equally important
component of the renewable energy mix.
EU and national environmental policies
must ensure the economic viability of the
SHP sector.
Fair support mechanisms should take
into account the multipurpose features of
hydropower and the growing costs arising
from environmental obligations.
Research funding should be increased to
better exploit the energy potential of SHP
and facilitate the operation of plants.
Small
Hydropower
Large Potential
Ekowatt
MHyLab
APPA Spain
Kleinwasserkraft Oesterreich
Small Hydropower
Sustainable
Energy
Recommendations
More consistency and cooperation is
needed in Europe between the energy
and environmental policies and respective
stakeholders.
Environmental policies should be based
on sound scientific assessment, clear
definitions and a cost-benefit analysis.
Current challenges
European environmental legislation
(Natura 2000, Directives on Environmental
Assessment, Water Framework Directive,
etc.) and national implementing laws can
hinder the development, the operation
and the refurbishment of SHP plants
through some overshooting measures
lacking scientific evidence, consistent
interpretations (e.g. river continuity, heavily
modified water bodies) and clear definitions.
Small Hydropower
Sustainable Energy
France Hydrolctricit
France Hydrolctricit
France Hydrolctricit
France Hydrolctricit
Small Hydropower
High Quality
Energy
Current challenges
European and national environmental policies
often overlook the contribution of SHP to
renewable energy production. There is a lack of
consistency between environmental policies and
the European Renewable Energy Directive.
Recommendations
European and national policy makers must
consider SHP as an equally important
component of the renewable energy mix.
More consensus and cooperation is
needed in Europe between the energy and
environmental policies and actors.
Decentralisation of energy production
should be supported by granting an
effective primary access of SHP to the
grid, allowing for net-billing (payment for
actual electricity sent to the grid) or/and
authorising SHP producers to directly sell
electricity to third parties.
More research funds should be allocated to
SHP development, in particular concerning
low head technologies, (pumped hydro)
storage and grid access.
Small Hydropower
High Quality Energy
MJ2 Technologies
TURAB
Small Hydropower
Engine for Growth
Current challenges
European environmental legislation
and national implementing laws hinder
the development, the operation and the
refurbishment of SHP plants through some
overshooting measures which have a high
impact on the economic viability of the sector.
SHP faces many administrative barriers. The
licensing procedure for the sector is currently an
extremely time consuming, highly bureaucratic
procedure and with too many uncertainties.
The adaptation of certain support schemes can
have an impact on the viability of the sector, in
particular when not being cost-based. Some
evolutions in water rights can also negatively
affect the sector.
Recommendations
Environmental policies should be based on a
cost-benefit analysis to ensure the economic
viability of the SHP sector.
Licensing procedures and issuing permits
should rely on simple, fair, solid &
transparent procedures (One-stop shops).
Fair support mechanisms should take
into account the multipurpose features
of hydropower and the growing costs
arising from operation and environmental
obligations. Effective primary access of SHP
to the grid, net-billing (payment for actual
electricity sent to the grid) or/and authorised
direct selling of electricity to third parties in
the Member States where it is not possible
today are measures that would increase the
competitiveness of SHP, while promoting
decentralised energy production.
Member States should develop strategies
to fully integrate SHP plants in regional
development policies (e.g. touristic activities).
Small
Hydropower
Engine for Growth