Nordic workshop on WFD implementation Sigtuna, Sweden, 20-22 September 2010 Hydropower and heavily modified water bodies in Norway Anja Skiple Ibrekk Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate
Overview NVEs tasks Pre-existing structures Licencing Master Plan Protected rivers Provisionally HMWB (characterisation) Designation of HMWB (management plan) Political agreement environmental objectives 2
Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate Energy licensing and control of conditions Effiecient energy markets, efficient energy use National center of expertice for hydrology Flood and landslide management incl. flood directive Tasks particulary related to WFD: Participate in the national coordination group Regional offices participate in the regional river basin groups and preparatory work on municipality level (propose measures and premises for the environmental objectives) Hydrology - monitoring Follow up managment plan with sector descions (licenses and imposing measures) Vann-Nett (GIS, database)
4 Many rivers and lakes are affected by hydropower
Impact of hydropower surface water Surface water (n=15328) Total at risk Not at risk Possible at risk At risk (other than HP) HMWB - hydropower
Impact of hydropower lake Lake area (n=5510) Total at risk Not at risk Possible at risk At risk (other than HP) HMWB - hydropower
Pre-exisiting structures Licensing system Master plan for hydropower Protection plans 7
The hydropower licensing system NVE considers hydropower license applications >10 MW final decision in cabinet Thorough process Hearings/consultation Local public meetings Site visits Includes all elements Sum of benefits larger than costs/damage 8
Licensing conditions Licenses are given with conditions Conditions include restrictions on operation, such as minimum flows, reservoir levels, fish passages etc. Conditions can be revised 50 yrs / 30 yrs 9
Revision of licence terms 340 licenses may be initiated for revision by 2022 All major hydropower schemes Also the hydro scheme including all environmental issues Comprises environmental conditions and user interests To day, only 1 revsion completed. About 20 started the process. River Basin Authority may initiated the process
The Hydropower Master Plan Originally to prioritise projects/map resources Cheapest power at least conflict Has protection elements 11
Protection plans Five decisions by parliament Protects watercourses from hydropower development Exception: Hydropower < 1 MW 12
Protected rivers Estimated potential in protected areas: 45,7 TWh 388 rivers/parts of rivers are protected from hydropower development 13
Definition of heavily modified water body 1. Physical intervention 2. Benefit to society 3. Not possible to achieve "good ecological status 4. No better alternative to achieve the same benefits
Tasks related to HMWB 1. Provissionally identify 2. Final designation 3. Environmental objectives
Provisionally identified HMWB Part of the characterization Based on the assessment of the state (and results from the classification if it exists) Environmental degradation caused by physical intervention Environmental condition worse than "good ecological status Physical and biological screening criteria are made Justification necessary (entered into national GIS/database Vann-Nett ) National guidance exists
Final designation of HMWB Part of the management plan Measures included to assess whether good ecological status can be reached. Many of the same assessments as for setting the objective good ecological potential.
Setting objectives for HMWB also a political dimension significant adverse effect WFD, Revision of HP schemes Demand for more renewable, climate
Steps for setting objectives Step 1: assess present environmental status Step 2: assess applicable measures for each WB Step 3: assess ecological effects of measures Step 4: define GEP as the resulting ecological effects of all applicable measures. Possible step 5: assess extended deadlines/exemptions
Assessment of applicable measures A measure is applicable if; a) instruments (e.g. legal tools) available e.g. revision of terms performed, b) no significant adverse effect on total electricity production and peaking capacity, and c) no significant adverse effect on the wider environment
Environmental objective HMWB Individual objectives for each WB Can not use class boundaries of the classification system as the environmental objetive Flexible: can be changed at the next review of the plan Experience from the first RBMPs - many exemptions (not defined the objective) due to lack of regional management capacity; an clear national guidelines
Political clarification objective regulated rivers Executive Decree as the cabinet adopted RBMP (June 2010): Environmental objectives in regulated river based on existing licence conditions. These environmental objectives are reported to ESA as binding targets. RBMP may also include suggestion for future environmental state (regardless exsisting terms). Means: Look for the opportunities for improvement within the existing framework Update the environmental goal if license conditions are changed
Suggested future state Espacially relevant where regional authorities find the current state unacceptable and the ecological effect of measures (beyond the current terms) is assumed to be good. Useful input to the national authorities when terms are to be revised.
Summary Use exsisting structures to meet the directive First step: candidates for HMWB (Art. 5) Second and third step in combination: designation and setting the environmental objectives of HMWB Political clarification environmental objective in regulated rivers Still working with national guidance HMWB Need for more practical experiences
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