European Hydropower Summit

27th & 28th February 2012 - Bucharest

DI Martina Prechtl Small Hydropower Austria 1

SHP in Austria

About

2.600 SHP installations in Austria

(grid connected) Production of about

5,6 TWh

per year Corresponds to

9 % of Austrian electricity consumption

respectively consumption of

1.6 mill. households 4.1 mill. to CO 2 - reduction

2

…there is still potential

Revitalisation New installations Total Potential SHP - 2020 additional production in TWh 0,5 - 1 1 - 1,5 1,5 - 2,5

3

… in numbers of new installations

engine-power class (kW) average power (kW) number of stations production in kWh

0 - 200 200 - 1000 1000 - 3000 3000 - 5000 5000 - 10000

Total

60 500 1800 3500 7000 140 100 60 20 15

335

40.320.000,00 240.000.000,00 518.400.000,00 336.000.000,00 504.000.000,00

1.638.720.000,00

4

Licencing procedure

Permit according to Water Law

Up to 500 kW district administrative authorities, above province administration authority.

Permit according to Electricity Law

Needed for plants with an installed capacity of 30 kW and more

Permit according to Nature Conservation Law, Building Legislation

Responsible authority: district administration (nature conservation), mayor resp. municipality (Building Law).

5

Support programs for SHP in Austria Environmental fund:

Subsidies for investments in the

fulfilment of WFD requirements

at

existing plants

(e.g. fish pass – not for losses due to residual flow!). Up to 30% of investment costs for SHP plus additional subsidies from the province (varies from 10 to 25% of investment costs)

Green electricity act

tariff) – investment subsidies, with revision of the act in 2011 the possibility for small plants (below 2 MW) to choose between direct investment subsidies and feed-in From 10% to 30% of investment costs resp. max. EUR 400,- to 1.500 / kW – height of tariffs not fixed yet

Several specific programs from in the provinces

– direct investment subsidies or consultancy programs. 6

Areas of conflicting interests

WF directive – prodection of river ecology RES directive and national energy strategies – need for green electricity Nature conservation Security of energy supply Climate protection AIM: Augmentation of HP electricity whilst respecting the aims of WFD keeping „good ecological status“ SHP and good ecological status is compatible!

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WFD and RES directive compatible?

WFD

Aim is

„good status“

of water bodies – obligatory

improvement

and

prohibited deterioration

- fish passes - residual flow - a.s.o.

Existing plants have to adapt to the new regulation – intervention in existing rights!

8

Consequences for SHP

• •

New installations:

Partly

difficult

and long lasting

Higher investment

licencing procedures

and planning costs •

Existing installations: Interference in existing rights

   Additional investments Production losses due to additional residual flow Changes in plant economy 9

WFD and RES directive compatible?

• •

RES directive:

20 % Renewable Energy for EU 34 % REN in Austria

Under consideration of:

 Available potential  Cost development

HP in Austria a very important energy source!!

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To combine WFD and RES directive we need …

• • • •

In terms of climate protection and REN development: No exaggeration

in implementation measures Implementation with

Sensitive approach

share of electricity

sense of proportion

with respect to

existing rights No discrimination of small facilities

– also they deliver an appreciable

Because: HP as CO 2 free and decentralised electricity production is very important for our future energy supply Many positive examples demonstrate the compatibility of WFD and RESD goals!

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Many positive examples …

12

Many positive examples …

13

Many positive examples …

14

Needs for a positive SHP development

Efficient Licencing procedures - support for applicants Licencing procedures have to be:

•

fast

• •

Simplified procedures

for

revitalisation

projects

No overloading demanded studies, expertise

– cost intensive • No overlapping •

Transparency

and

comparability

of decisions

Planning security, authority as a service point

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Needs for positive SHP development

Adequate support mechanisms

(for technical and ecological measures)

Support mechanism have to:

•

Stimulat

e modernisation, innovation and the usage of potential • Show

continuity

(stable, long ranging) •

WFD

implementation

has to be supported Stabel financing conditions for sector More green electricity from SHP

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Needs for positive SHP development

• •

Sense of proportion with WFD implementation

Additional energy production due to modernisation must not be totally consumed by over boarding ecological burden Standards for residual flow and fish passes must not be overshooting (what is really needed for „good ecological status“?)

Overshooting standards lead to:

  Resistance against modernisation projects – no innovation Delayed exploitation of revitalisation potential   Unjustified limitation of new exploitation potential Compromises of economic viability due to high investments and losses

Balanced implementation of WFD leads to: More SHP green electricity & attention for river ecology

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Needs for positive development

Strengthening competences and building up advice services

• Comprehensive

information and advice for SHP sector

(legal, technical, ecological, economical) – example advise service in several Austrian provinces •

building up

of

planning- und advise competence Frictionless project handling under new framework conditions No „project frustration“

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Good practice example in Austria Revitalisation campaign

(esp. Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Tirol) Revitalisation - Consulting for operators (subsidies by the regional government) & Investment subsidies

• • •

Aims: increase

of

energy production

on existing sites

ecological adaption new facilities

measures on appropriate sites (technical and ecological)

Results:

• • • • • Longest experience with this program in Upper Austria with the result of:

additional 260

electricity production of modernized or

new plants about 80 GWh Average production increase 40% Investment

of

45 Mio. EUR Ecological improvements

Example of revitalisation 1: Magerlmühle Before Revitalisation

At the river Großen Mühl - since 1922 HP utilisation to run a leather fabric

• • • • • • • • Francis-turbine vertical with cogwheel and belt transmission Maximum throughput: Q = 5,5 m 3 /s Head: H = 2,6 m Turbine output: 110 kW electric power: 95 kW annual production: 450.000 kWh no fish pass 300 m diversion without residual flow

Example of revitalisation 1: Magerlmühle

Revitalisation 2004

• • Kaplan turbine vertical double regulated • Maximum throughput • Head: H = 2,5 m : Q = 6 m 3 /s Turbine output : 135 kW • electric power : 120 kW • Annual production: 750.000 kWh • Further operation of old plant with an annual production of 350.000 kWh => total production per year: 1.100.000

Thank you for your attention

www.kleinwasserkraft.at

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