Transcript Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat

Norwegian Water Resources and
Energy Directorate
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE’s main responsibility

The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy
Directorate is a directorate under the Ministry of
Petroleum end Energy and is responsible for the
management of Norway’s water and energy
resources.

NVEs function is to ensure an integrated and
environmentally sound management of Norway’s
water resources, promote an efficient energy market
and cost-effective energy system and take initiative to
promote efficient energy use.

The Directorate has a central role in national flood
contingency planning and has the overall
responsibility for maintaining national power supplies.
Organization chart
Micro- and mini hydropower
Micro- and Mini Hydropower in Norway
focus on rural electrification and/or extra income/
reduced expenses for the farmer
Micro- and mini hydropower

Micro hydro is power stations less than 100 kW

Mini hydro is power stations between 100 and
1000 kW

Small hydro is power stations between 1000 kW
and 10 000 kW . The phrase “small hydro” is also
often used for all power stations less the 10 000
kW.
Micro- and mini hydropower

Norway started generation of electricity from hydro
power development 120 years ago. Over a period
of 50 years a large number of small hydro was
commissioned, and in 1929 we had more than
1300 stations in operation with output less than
1000 kW. The technology was purchased from
Germany and England, and the power enhanced
local production of furniture, cloths and other
products, which benefited from new electrical
machinery.
Micro- and mini hydropower
number
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
in operation
plans
1929
1946
1991
2002
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE supported projects

1999 - 2000: SKM project: Lessons learned by
implementing micro- and mini hydro in Norway.

2000- 2001:Small hydro union, detailing issues
derived from the SKM project and other new
information.

2000 - 2002:MGK project highlighted development
in protected rivers, and micro - and mini
hydropower influence on the local economy.
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Microand mini
Constraints
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planning and
implementation
NVE supported
projects - SKM
Results
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40
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30
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20
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10
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0
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE supported projects - SKM
Results

The rules and regulations are difficult to
understand

A guide book is needed

The different authorities (NVE, Directorate for
Nature conservation, County and Municipality)
should co-ordinate their control and licensing work
better
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE supported projects - SKM
Results

NVE must implement the same tariff and policy in
all the distribution companies

NVE must secure that adequate information is
available and regularly updated.

It is a need to improve know-how and access to
information on the electricity market
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE supported projects - SKM
Results

Need for improved financing pakages and knowhow

Need for technical guiding. 25% had experienced
problems with intake, and 30% had bad
experience with the electro- and mechanical
equipment.
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE supported projects - MGK
Results

62 possible hydropower plants are located

The plants will have a total capacity between 5
and 15 MW, and produce 50-90 GWh depending
on release of compensation water

Approximately 100% of electricity consumption in
the Municipality could be covered
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE supported projects - MGK
Results

13 of the 62 projects have serious environmental
conflicts with the idea of “hydropower free
watercourse”

Total investment is approximately NOK 150 mill

Construction activity over a period of 10 years will
develop local business, and the need for support
during the many years of operation can justify a
local maintenance workshop.
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE supported projects - MGK
Results

Annual benefit for the municipality could be NOK
20 mill.

Money saved are better than money earned. The
hydropower activity is supplementary to farming,
and because of need for few maintenance hours
weekly, it allows the farmer to continue being a
farmer.

The scale factor is important and the largest plants
have the best economic viability, but….

Own use of the power is the most important for the
economy
Micro- and mini hydropower
NVE supported projects - MGK
what now?

The Report is useful for the local area planning
and energy planning

The Report has been discussed in the
Municipality, and they are now busy preparing an
application for licence for 40 of the 62 projects in
phase 1, and will present the rest in phase 2 next
year when they feel the negative environmental
impacts have been sorted out.

Other surrounding Municipalities are now planning
to embark on similar studies.
Micro- and mini hydropower
2002

NVE has NOK 3 mill for improving the present
situation, and by research and development enhance
technical solutions and competence to reduce the worst
cases of disasters
Micro- and mini hydropower
2002

NOK 850 000 for supporting a test laboratory to
clear the way for Norwegian certificates for turbine
solutions. Also field test activities are included.

NOK 300 000 to support research on new intake
technology

NOK 250 000 to support research on the use of
“offshore drilling technologies” as a substitute to
penstocks, and extending life of old penstocks by
using inflatable rubber pipes.
Micro- and mini hydropower
2002

NOK 250 000 to support activities in the newly formed
Small Hydro Association, which are of common
interest.

NOK 500 000 to improve an existing guide book on
planning, financing, construction and operation of small
hydro power plants

NOK 600 000 to start the mapping of micro- and mini
hydro resources in Norway by using GIS technology
together with electronic hydrology maps and cost
curves.
Micro- and mini hydropower
2002

NOK 250 000 for seminars and miscellaneous activities

We have 20 projects on a wait list with proposals:
• advanced tools for remote operation
• low cost turbine development
• low cost gates
• distance learning
• and more

The NVE activity will continue next year
Small Hydro less than 100 kW
6 kW farm hydro
Small Hydro less than 100 kW
6 kW farm hydro
Micro- and mini hydropower
2002

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
The 6 kW farm plant was inaugurated in 1992, and has
successfully been in operation for 10 years.
It has produced approximately 430 000 kWh during
these 10 years, and thus generated saving on the
electricity bill for the farmer in the order of
approximately NOK 250 000
The plant had a total construction cost in 1992 of NOK
120 000 in addition to his own working hours, and the
farmer received a lump sum from NVE of NOK 50 000
because this was a test plant for micro hydro
development.