hydropower generation in the alps and future trends -situation

Karl SchwaigerAlpine Convention

WATER IN THE ALPS3rd International Conference

VeniceNov. 25th – 26th, 2010

Hydropower generation in the Alps and

future trends - Situation Report

Dipl.-Ing. Karl Schwaiger

On behalf of CH- AT chairs of Water Platform of Alpine Convention

Head of Unit - International Water Policy

Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management

[email protected]




Outline of presentation

• Water Management issues in the Alps – from Innsbruck to

Venezia

• Challenges in place

• Main contents, findings and conclusions




Water in the Alps – 3 water conferences

Water - key asset of the Alpine Perimeter

3 international Conferences devoted to water

– Innsbruck 2006 – Do we need a water protocoll?

– Munich 2008 – Report on the State of the Alps:

no protocoll - need for follow up on hydropower

=> platform „Water Managment in the Alps“

– Venice 2009 – Presentation of results of platform




Challenges in place

1. Reduce ecological impacts of Hydropower

generation

2. Meet targets of Directive 2009/28/EC (renewables)

3. Optimisation between these two conflicting

objectives




1. Reduce ecological impacts due to hydropower generation:

- High number of sites already in place

- Dating from decades ago

- Mostly without migration aids for fish

- Do not meet modern requirements for residual water

⇒Main longterm challenge: to restore good status of WFD

=> Inspiring Good Practice examples in place in MS

Water in the Alps – challenges in place




Challenges in place - Hydropower Generation > 10 MW




Challenge of fragmentation of rivers due to (S)HP

And still more to beexpected!

Example Slovenia

Situation similar in other countries




1. Challenge – Reduce impacts on surface waters




reduce impacts on surface waters

no residual flow and hydropeaking




Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use from Energy from renewable sources; very ambitious targets

• 20% less primary energy consumption,

• 20% less green house gases,

• 20% share of renewables in energy consumption);

=> Challenge: Where + how to realise a given volume of HP production in an environmental friendly + sustainable way until 2020?

• new HP-plants

• refurbishment of HP-plants in place

2. Challenges in place – increase share of renewables




> 21.000 SHP in place

Attention: definition of SHP differs among countries!

Potential of Small Hydropower in Europe

Data Source: ESHA 2010




Increase the production of

renewable energy from hydropower generation

High hydroelectric potential

Important value of ecosystems and landscape

National goals for renewable energy

Uniqueness of remaining unexploited rivers

Conflict of interest

How to strike a balance between these two overriding objectives?

good reasons and need for achievement of both objectives!

Minimize the impairment of the

aquatic ecosystem and landscape

3. Challenge: optimization between two conflicting objectives




Water in the Alps – Deliverables of platform

Situation report sets basis for further products

Situation report

Common guidelines

Best practice

examples




• Working mode

• Main content

• findings and conclusions

Situation Report




• 7 meetings

• Information collected by templates

• drafts prepared by chair; text developed step by step

• Draft put on net, results presented in Venice

• Comments from Conference will be incorporated;

• language check

Situation Report – working mode of platform




Comprehensive report of 50 pages and 7 chapters

1) Introduction setting the scene

2) Background data on HP generation in the Alps, incl. benefits and impacts

3) Statistical Information on share of HP production and avoidance of green house gases

4) Policy framework in place in alpine countries

5) Supporting policies and SHP promotion

6) Framework and general conditions for authorisations

7) Main findings and conclusions

Situation Report




1) No need for new guidances for residual flow + fish passes

2) Many HP in place do not meet modern ecological

requirements; financial incentives mostly in place

3) High number of requests for new licenses / authorisations

4) HP generation of SHP disproportionate to number of sites

5) Need for guidance for the identification of potential

favourable locations + the subsequent authorization

decision

Main findings and conclusions




CATEGORY OF HYDROPOWER STATIONS (BOTTLENECK CAPACITY)

< 300 kW 300 -

1.000 kW 1.000 -

5.000 kW 5.000 -

10.000 kW >10.000 kW

Production [%] 1,2% 2,5% 6,1% 4,3% 85,8%

Stations [%] 56% 18% 13% 3% 10%

Data missing fromFrance + Slovenia




Common Guidelines – strategic planning

SHPs possible only in exceptional cases(e.g. auto-supply)

additional aspects and in-depth assessment weighing

all relevant criteria indispensable

Next to complying with legal environmental standards, possibly further or stricter

requirements may be necessary

No hydro-electrical

exploitation possible

since protectedareas where anyinterventions areforbidden by law

complying with the legal environmental

(and other) standards,

construction of SHPs in general

possible

EXCLUSION

e.g. SHP forbidden by law

NON- FAVORABLE

for hydro-electrical exploitation.

Strong interest for conservation

LESS-FAVORABLE

for hydro-electrical exploitation

FAVORABLE


SHPs possible only in exceptional cases(e.g. auto-supply)

additional aspects and in-depth assessment weighing

all relevant criteria indispensable

Next to complying with legal environmental standards, possibly further or stricter

requirements may be necessary

No hydro-electrical

exploitation possible

since protectedareas where anyinterventions areforbidden by law

complying with the legal environmental

(and other) standards,

construction of SHPs in general

possible

EXCLUSION

e.g. SHP forbidden by law

NON- FAVORABLE

for hydro-electrical exploitation.

Strong interest for conservation

LESS-FAVORABLE


FAVORABLE


• How to assess appropriate locations• Hydroelectric potential versus ecological value• Results can be visualized as maps and serve

as communication tool for potential investors




Situation report provides i.a. insight into

• Hydro power generation in the Alps in a comprehensive way

• Trends to be expected: efforts are under way

– driven by WFD to make hydro power generation in place “greener”

– To enhance hydro power generation further in line with targets

based on Directive 2009/28/EC but in a careful and controlled and

environmental compatible way – our guidance may contribute

Main findings and conclusions




Thank you very much for your attention!

hydropower generation in the alps and future trends -situation

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