UNLEASH MICROHYDRO POTENTIAL IN EUROPE

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1 UNLEASH MICROHYDRO POTENTIAL IN EUROPE EUROPE S APPROACH TO REPOWERING ITS FORGOTTEN SMALL HYDROPOWER SITES Martina Steinkusz European Small Hydropower Association (ESHA) Hydrovision 2015 Portland, OR, 14 July 2015

2 RESTOR HYDRO OVERVIEW 2

3 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, 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.

4 SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES STILL EXIST IN EUROPE FOR DEVELOPING HYDROPOWER 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. 4

5 OUR GREATEST POTENTIAL COMES FROM THE PAST 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.

6 WHY SHOULD WE PUT OLD HYDROPOWER SITES BACK ON LINE? 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

7 THE RESTOR HYRDO IDENTIFIED HISTORICAL SMALL AND MICRO HYDRO SITES SUITABLE FOR REFURBISHMENT Implementation country Mills Map country assessed the state of small hydropower and refurbishment potential in 27 European countries Target countries: Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden 7

8 Map location, potential, restorability sites The 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. 8

9 FREE EU HYDROPOWER DATABASE 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 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. 9

10 RESTOR HYDRO STIMULATED INVESTMENT THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL HYDRO POWER COOPERATIVES 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 10

11 REALISTIC WAYS OF FINANCING? The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI) Supports Cohesion Policy agenda over the period , 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 11

12 COMMON OBSTACLES FOR ESTABLISHING A SHP COOPERATIVE 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) 12

13 USEFUL PUBLICATIONS 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 :

14 EXAMPLES Les Avins, Clavier BELGIUM kw 9.2 m wooden wheel Mazeyek/TDM, Marchin BELGIUM 14

15 EXAMPLES Naoussa Greece 15

16 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT 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! 16

17 THANK YOU! Contact 17

18 APPENDIX: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN HYDROPOWER 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 18