STRATEGIC PLANNING IN AUSTRIA

Transcription

1 Art. 4.7 Workshop, 13/14 Dec 2016,, Brussels STRATEGIC PLANNING IN AUSTRIA Veronika Koller-Kreimel Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment & Water Management, Dep. for National and International Water Management

2 1 st RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN (NGP, 2009) New projects which might lead to deterioration Hydropower plants Flood protection To mitigate climate change and to meet the goals of RES-Directive new hydropower plants planend (NREAP: 4 TWh ) Deterioration of status might not be avoided even if the project is fulfilling the State of Art and Technology requirements legally set (e.g. fish passability, eflow, ) + additional practical measures. Art. 4.7 test to be applied

3 PLANNING TOOLS TO SUPPORT DECISION MAKING IN INTEGRATING EU ENERGY POLICY Art. 4.7 test: overriding public interests /weighing public interests; better environmental option River Basin Management Plan 2009: Clear principle for weighing public interests: The higher the ecological value of a river stretch the higher the energy output has to be. Catalogue of criteria for assessing ecological value of sites and energy management value of new hydropower projects Strategic planning on regional level for appropriate site selection

4 AUSTRIAN CATALOGUE FOR WATER Protection of Water - Use of water: Criteria to assess the sustainability of hydropower projects (Criteria catalogue Hydropower, 2012 instruction) assist in weighing public interests (not forstalling decision of authorisation body) common understanding on most relevant criteria to rate the ecological value of rivers common understanding on most relevant criteria to rate energy management value of hp projects to assist transparency basis for regional strategic planning supporting efficient (water) management Developed by the Ministry for Water Management o in co-operation with the 9 regional governments o involvement of all stakeholders (Ministry of Economic Affairs, energy sector, NGOs, )

5 Criteria Catalogue for new hydropower projects 3 FIELDS OF PUBLIC INTERESTS Energy management 4 criteria: Ecology 4 criteria: security of supply quality of supply contribution to climate change mitig. technical efficiency naturalness rarity specific ecol. function in catchment dimension of negative effects several indicators for every single criterion 3 level value rating (high - medium - low ) Other water management interests flood control sediment management groundwater quantity Groundwater quality drinking water supply surface water quality recreation/ tourism/ fisheries, 5 levels of effects ++ very positive + positive 0 indifferent - negative - - very negative effects on water bodies already restored

6 Austrian Criteria Catalogue Indicator rating

7 Austrian Criteria Catalogue for new hydropower projects EXAMPLE Energy Management Security of supply: Amount of electr.production Ecology (GWh/a) Value rating low medium high < > 50 Naturalness Status of ecological integrity ecol.status Rarity Type (Total length of type in near natural morphology Share of river km left in good or high ecological status high good less than good >1.000 km km < 750 km > 50% high 20-50% high < 20% high or < 33% good / better

8 Austrian Criteria Catalogue Ecological indicators /maps

9 STRATEGIC PLANNING TO SUPPORT APPROPRIATE SITE SELECTION Based on Austrian Criteria Catalogue and fitted to region specific conditions 2 approaches: Focus on rivers with high (ecological) value to be preserved Desigation for hydropower use Basic Studies: (Thematic maps) Underwent SEA! Unexploited hydroelectric potential (technically/economically feasible) Regional renewable energy goals Collection of ecological data Collection of other relevant interests /uses

10 Strategic planning - Province of Styria Criteria mainly based on Austrian Criteria Cartalogue + Nature protection aspects Rivers < 10 km 2 Identification of river stretches of high ecological importance Evaluation of hydropower potential in Styria (2012) Unexploited hydropower potential (technically feasible): 1, 3 TWh Styrian Renewables Objective for Hydropower: + 0,76 TWh till 2020 Already realised in the meantime: 0,48 TWh (June 2013)

11 Regional Programme for the Protection of Rivers (Ordinance, May 2015) A: Priority for preservation (total protection from any use) B: Priority for ecology (ecologically important) significantly restricted use C: Weighting sites (high electricity potential) Hydropower use possible but no Art. 4.7 exemption allowed!

12 Regional Programm for the preservation of rivers with ecological value in Lower Austria (Ordinance, 2016) Priority for protection Significant restrictions Hp possible but no exemption from GES allowed

13 Assessment of an ecologically sound hydropower potential in medium/large rivers of Upper Austria (Study, 2012/2013) 30 rivers assessed: river-km Favourable sites Less favourable sites Non favourable sites

14 STRATEGIC PLANNING IN TYROL Rahmenplan Tiroler Oberland (Ordinance) Designating sites for efficient hydropower use new development or extension of pumped storage plants HpPlants providing high electricity output Designating No-Go Areas

15 Thank you for your attention!