Martina Steinkusz

UNLEASH MICROHYDRO POTENTIAL IN EUROPE

EUROPE’S APPROACH TO REPOWERING ITS FORGOTTEN SMALL HYDROPOWER SITES

Martina SteinkuszEuropean Small Hydropower Association (ESHA)

Hydrovision 2015Portland, OR, 14 July 2015

http://www.restor-hydro.eu/en/the-restor-hydro-video-is-online-check-it-out/

RESTOR Hydrowww.restor-hydro.eu 2

RESTOR HYDRO OVERVIEW



1. Renewable Energy Sources Transforming Our Regions (RESTOR) Hydro is a project co-financed by the European Commission under the Intelligent Energy Europe programme.

2. The project runs from June 2012 till May 2015 and has a volume of € 2,581,853.

3. RESTOR Hydro is coordinated by ESHA, the European Small Hydropower Association.

4. The consortium brings together technical experts, dissemination networks and associations for the promotion of small hydropower from different European countries.

The sole responsibility for the content of this presentation lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

European hydropower industry is quite mature and highly developed at technological level.

Only 44 TWh/year, less than half of SHP’s potential has been tapped within the EU.

More than 50 TWh/year can be brought on line in the future, if the current conditions are improved.

The most promising EU countries for SHP expansion: Italy, France, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Greece

and Poland.


SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES STILL EXIST IN EUROPE FOR DEVELOPING HYDROPOWER

Unrealized potential for small and micro hydropower generation exists in Europe’s thousands of historic mills, water wheels, inoperative hydropower stations, weirs and other lateral structures in rivers.

OUR GREATEST POTENTIAL COMES FROM THE PAST

Repowering abandoned sites results in

generation of hydroelectric power, both for local use and for injection to the European electrical grid

enhancement of energy supply security

creation of local energy sources gives a boost to local economies, provides income sources and creates jobs

RESTOR Hydro

WHY SHOULD WE PUT OLD HYDROPOWERSITES BACK ON LINE?

RESTOR Hydro assessed the state of small hydropower and refurbishment potential in 27 European countries

Target countries: Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden


THE RESTOR HYRDO IDENTIFIED HISTORICAL SMALL AND MICRO HYDRO SITES SUITABLE FOR REFURBISHMENT

Implementation country

Mills Mapcountry

RESTOR Hydro Maplocation, potential, restorability50.000 sites


The RESTOR Hydro Map is an online tool which provides authoritative information on the hydropower potential of historic water wheels and mills, inoperative hydropower stations, weir sites, and other lateral river structures

The data collected is freely available to regional authorities, municipalities, local hydropower developers, researchers and any other interested members of the public.

www.restor-hydro.eu 9

FREE EU HYDROPOWER DATABASE

RESTOR Hydro enhances the Stream Map project, which gathers detailed energy, market and policy data into the HYDI (Hydro Data Initiative) central database, which is free of access to the public.

The RESTOR Hydro project benefits from the information collected within the HYDI database; at the same time it contributes to the Stream Map initiative, providing detailed mapping of historic sites with high micro hydropower potential in the EU.

Citizens create, own and control cooperative.

Members are owners, investors and customers.

ROI is not the major driver due to long payback period economic benefit for community is the key driver


RESTOR HYDRO STIMULATED INVESTMENT THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL HYDRO POWER COOPERATIVES

The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI) Supports Cohesion Policy agenda over the period 2014-2020, available up to EUR 351,8 billion

It includes the following three main instruments: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Cohesion Fund (CF), European Social Fund (ESF)

Crowdfunding Nonprofit /financing campaign for a startup

Collection of money from the „crowd“

Money is raised within a certain time frame

> realisation of project

Mostly through websites

Grants and regional loans Distinct from country to country

Low or sometimes even no interest rate

Can be decisive for project financing RESTOR Hydrowww.restor-hydro.eu 11

REALISTIC WAYS OF FINANCING?

Citizens and neighbours

Strong opposition against hydropower projects

Water Management Permit

Not enough capital may be raised

Difficulties to obtain bank loans

European Water Framework Directive (WFD)


COMMON OBSTACLES FOR ESTABLISHING A SHP COOPERATIVE

• Guidebook on Cooperatives Business Model, Template for Master Agreement,

Financial Tool

• Small and Micro Hydropower Restoration Handbook

The All-Inclusive Replicable Model

Permitting, Technical & Funding

Available at :

http://www.restor-hydro.eu/en/tools/community-finance-and-local-cooperatives/


USEFUL PUBLICATIONS

EXAMPLES

Les Avins, Clavier BELGIUM10-18 kW

9.2 m wooden wheel


Mazeyek/TDM, MarchinBELGIUM

EXAMPLES

NaoussaGreece


Increase local lobbying towards policy/decision makers

Ensure legal security and financing (country specific loans). European funds, if applicable

Engage in fund-raising activities. Community participation!


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OVERCOMINGBARRIERS TO COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

THANK YOU!


Contact

[email protected]

[email protected]

Innovation and new approaches SHP projects with small pumped storage or

multipurpose projects

Development of hydropower plants with new and innovative solutions to answer to smart grid advanced requirements

Research on fish friendly (oil-free) solutions

Hydrokinetic turbine

Low and ultra-low head technologies


APPENDIX: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGYTRENDS IN HYDROPOWER

Documents

Martina Steinkusz