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UNIDO Expert Group Meeting on Renewable Energy and ISID,

20-21 Nov 2014, Vienna

SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA FOR SHP


& EU-POLICY
Veronika Koller-Kreimel
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment & Water Management

HYDROPOWER PLANTS IN AUSTRIA


38 000 GWh/a (~ 60% of total electricity production)
5 200 hp Plants

of hp potential is already exploited


> 10 MW: 156
1-10 MW: 225
< 1 MW: 4 800

Austria: 84,000 km2


River net > 10 km2: 32,000 km
V. Koller-Kreimel

EU-RES Directive: commitment to increase


3,500 GWh hp generation till 2020

AUSTRIAN WATER ACT 1990


Ensuring the good functioning of surface water ecology
was declared to be a public interest
- has to be taken into account obligatory when a use affecting waters needs
an authorization
Specific technical requirements for new (hydropower) projects
Any hydropower plant needs a permit by the Water Authorities

No tax
No fee

< 500 kW County level


> 500 kW .. Provincial government
Specified large hp: Ministry for Agriculture,Forestry, Environment & Water Management

EU POLICY
WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (2000)

Protection and sustainable use of waters


Environmental objective: good ecological status:
good quality of structure & functioning of aquatic ecosystems
Biological elements have to be in good status

(diversity is included!)

Focus not only of pollution /dangerous substances,


but any pressure/ alteration affecting the aquatic ecosystem

EU-WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (2000)


Protection and sustainable use of waters
Hydrology & Morphology

Flow regime
Flow velocities
Sediment
Depth/width
Riparian zone
River Continuity
()

Good ecological status:


HY-MO only altered by uses to such an extent that good status of biology
is not jeopardized.
Non Deterioration Principle for new projects
Exemptions only if specific requirements are met

Benefit to society is
- Overriding public interest
overweighing ecological benefit
- No better environmental option
- All measures are set to mitigate negative effects on ecology

River Basin Management Plan (every 6th year) : Reporting on pressures & impacts,
ecological status and deficits, programm of measures, public consultation!

SUSTAINABLE USE

Water uses are balanced


(no single overuse) and

fulfill specific technical requirements

to allow a good functioning of aquatic ecosystems


so that all ecosystem services can still be provided

Main ecological impacts of SHP


Type in-stream hp plant
Type diversion hp plant

- Reduced flow velocity


- Change of river character
- Sediment trap
Barrier for fish migration &
sediment transport
Reduced flow
Usually

fish are most sensitive!

Sustainability Criterion

ENSURING RIVER CONTINUITY


.. transparent process of River Basin Management Plan

Fish pass for upstream migration is required


at every obstacle (hydropower plant)

Sustainability Criterion

ENSURING RIVER CONTINUITY


for fish migration & habitat interconnectvity

Declared to be State of the Art & Technology

minimum flow & water depth


to ensure passability for fish

Sustainability criterion

ENSURING ECOLOGICAL FLOW


National Water Act:

water abstraction is to be limited


to ensure ecological functioning (= ecological flow )
Ecological flow:
- base flow (minimum flow rate): must be available all the time
&

- dynamic flow rate: reflecting natural flow dynamics over the year
Ordinance on Water Quality Objectives:
Guide values for ecological flow
- Harmonised procedures, applicable for all
water body types
- Clear understanding what is needed for a
new project

Ecological requirements
River continuity
Ecological flow
Minimisation of reduction of natural habitats & habitat diversity
obligatory

for existing as well as new hydropower plants

New hydropower plants: Prerequisite to get a permit

Existing plants:
Have to be adapted (ecological restoration)
When?
How to implement/enforce it?
How to get acceptance from the hydropowers sector?

Sustainability Criterion

MINIMISATION OF REDUCTION OF HABITAT DIVERSITY


Well structured riverine habitats
(good morphological conditions) at least
in the beginning of the backwater area

in-stream power plants

- still high flow velocities


- river character still remained

Taking into accout as well


cumulative effects within the catchment!

SOLUTIONS FOR EXISTING SMHP PLANTS


Ecological restoration needed
at about 2,000 Austrian SMHPs

River Basin Management Plan 2009


(Public consultation!)

Investment cost, production losses


Decisions based on facts!

Phased restoration
(Ecological pioritisation)

Financing: polluter pays principle


but incentives (financial support schemes) to start restoration
already before the legal deadline

Legal instruments
- to change existing permits
- to force Hp owners to deliver project for ecological restoration
within a specified timeframe otherwise the permit will exspire

Measures for awareness & acceptance raising

AWARENESS &
ACCEPTANCE RAISING
Co-operation
in studies
and research

Discussion with hp sector


as early as possible

Advisory services to find win-win-solutions


Free advise for small hp owners
to increase production efficiency (i.e. by refurbishment)
and to improve ecology at the same time
Average increase of electricity generation + 30%

NEW HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT


Additional sustainability criterion:
Transparent procedure for the selection of appropriate sites
(i.e.) according to the following ranking:
1. Increase of efficiency at existing sites
2. Sites where a new project would not mean a deterioration
3. Sites where new projects have very low negative impacts
on ecology compared to other sites

Increase
renewable energy
Planning is required
for balancing

conflicting interests!

Nature
protection

Economic &
social aspects

Good functioning
river ecosystems

NEW HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING


International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
Guiding principles for sustainable Hydropower Development

Thank you
for your attention

veronika.koller-kreimel@bmlfuw.gv.att

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