CIGB technical committee Integrated Operation of Hydropower Stations and Reservoirs Thierry AVRIL FRANCE Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 1
Regulatory background in France 1/2 Hydroelectric «Concession» license P > 4.5 MW initial duration : 75 years Renewals generally between 30 and 50 years At license expiration, plants are given back to Government Authority Renewal of license is based on revised requirements and water rights through a tender A dam removal decision can also be taken by the Government Authority Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 2
Regulatory background in France 2/2 Hydroelectric «Authorization» license P < 4.5 MW initial duration : 75 years Renewals are around 30 years At license expiration, licensee remains the owner of facilities. If license renewal is rejected : «restoration to natural river conditions» is required with costs at licensee s charge Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 3
River management Fish protection - Water & Fish Act, 1984 determines In stream Flow conditions requirements New projects must comply with new requirements For existing projects, a progressive increase of in stream flow is requested, until relicensing time. Then full compliance is required Imposes an «effectiveness» for fish passage facilities Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 4
De-commissionning first examples Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 5
Kernansquillec (1/3) Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 6
Kernansquillec example (2/3) A concession licence, built in 1920 for a paper plant, located downstream of agricultural areas Experienced eutrophisation and significant silting of the reservoir (about 50%) A catastrophic draw-down operation during the last safety check (compulsory every 10 years in France) Administrative authority imposed conditions for renewal of the outgoing concessionary Increase the capacity of spillway and remove the silt from the reservoir Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 7
Kernansquillec (3/3) The outgoing concessionary gave up his renewal request The plant was transferred to the state at the end of 1993 During a flood in january 1995, 7 houses had to be evacuated. Administrative authority decided to demolish the dam, completed in 1996 Coast 1.5 Meuros Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 8
De-commissionning of dams From 1996, 8 dams have been decommissioned in France The first example was Kernansquillec plant between 1993 and 1996. Since 1996 : 6 other dams : St Etienne de Vigan (12 m), Maison rouge (4 m), Brive Charensac (3 m), Blois (2,5m), Fatou (6 m), Poutes (17 m) At present, two plants and two dams on the Selune river «Vezins (35 M)» and «La Roche qui Boit» are under discussion. Decision to deconstruct Vezins was taken, but there is still local opposition. Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 9
VEZINS POUTES BRIVE CHARENSAC BLOIS ST ETIENNE DE VIGAN MAISON ROUGE Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 10
Main issues for decommissioning Safety of the infrastructure, especially considering floods Fish migration upstream and downstream of the dam, sometimes for several species Silting of reservoir or solid transport (stopped by the dam) And very often a combination of all these factors Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 11
Hydroelectricity in France Installed capacity 25 415 MW (2008 data) Mean annual production about 70 TWh Hydroelectricity represents about 90% of renewable energy and 12% of the total electricity produced Water storage capacity 9 KM 3, 7 for hydroelectricity production Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 12
Hydroelectric development (1/2) For large hydro (>10 MW) 525 projects 22 500 MW including 4 300 MW of STEP 60% are new plants, 25% STEP, 15% increase capacity of the plant Represent a production of 23,4 TWh a year For small hydro (0,1<P<10 MW) 1 000 MW and 4 TWh For very small hydro (P<0,1 MW) 600 MW and 1 TWh Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 13
Hydroelectric Development (2/2) Total potential was estimated at 28,4 TWh, but because of environmental constraints Effective potential was estimated at 13,4 TWh a year, and reviewed recently to 12 MWh Project that will be decided until 2015 represent 1 920 MW and 7 TWh a year Some examples : Rizanezze 2012 a new plant, 55 MW Gavet new plant replacing four old facilities 92 MW La Bâtie increase of installed capacity, 550 to 600 MW Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 14
Rizzanese Corsica 55 MW 40.5 high 1.3 km3 5,8 km of Impounding in 2012 Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 15
Gavet 92 MW, replacing six old plants of 82 MW Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 16
Roseland La Bâthie Isere river in the alps Improve safety and performance From 2011 to 2018 Increase capacity 50 MW Reservoir 213 hm 3 Strategic for peak electricity demand Integrated Operation of Hydropower and Reservoirs 17