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Small Hydropower
Large Potential
The European Small Hydropower Association (ESHA) is a
federation of European national hydropower associations as well
as members from all sectors of the hydropower field, such as
equipment manufacturers, public utilities, independent producers,
research institutes, investors, industry and consultants.
ESHA represents the interests of the small hydropower sector by
promoting the benefits and opportunities of hydropower (a mature
renewable energy technology) at EU level.
Contact & Info:
European Small Hydropower Association
Renewable Energy House
Rue d’Arlon, 63-65
1040 Brussels (Belgium)
www.esha.be - info@esha.be
+32 2 400 10 67
Did you know?
In general, small hydropower (SHP) stands
for a plant with an installed capacity of up
to 10 MW. SHP currently supplies enough
electricity for 13 million households.
SHP plays a key role in greenhouse
gas emissions reduction through green
energy production and support to other
technologies (e.g. wind, solar).
SHP is a very efficient decentralised
electricity production technology.
SHP is important for European economies
and for regional development.
SHP has a large potential for development
and refurbishment of plants.
Current challenges
SHP and its potential for Europe is often
overlooked and kept away from the
European and national policy agendas.
SHP can be negatively impacted by
environmental legislation in Europe, so
that it becomes more difficult to produce
renewable energy from water. It is however
a technology which can be used for water
management purposes.
SHP faces many administrative barriers
at national level, making it difficult for the
sector to be granted or to keep exploitation
licenses and to have an efficient access
to the electricity grid. The adaptation of
certain support schemes can have an
impact on the viability of the sector, in
particular when not being cost-based.
Recommendations
More consensus and cooperation is
needed in Europe between the energy and
environmental policies and actors.
European and national policy makers should
consider SHP as an equally important
component of the renewable energy mix.
EU and national environmental policies
must ensure the economic viability of the
SHP sector.
Fair support mechanisms should take
into account the multipurpose features of
hydropower and the growing costs arising
from environmental obligations.
Research funding should be increased to
better exploit the energy potential of SHP
and facilitate the operation of plants.
Small
Hydropower
Large Potential
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Small Hydropower
Sustainable
Energy
The European Small Hydropower Association (ESHA) is a
federation of European national hydropower associations as well
as members from all sectors of the hydropower field, such as
equipment manufacturers, public utilities, independent producers,
research institutes, investors, industry and consultants.
ESHA represents the interests of the small hydropower sector by
promoting the benefits and opportunities of hydropower (a mature
renewable energy technology) at EU level.
Contact & Info:
European Small Hydropower Association
Renewable Energy House
Rue d’Arlon, 63-65
1040 Brussels (Belgium)
www.esha.be - info@esha.be
+32 2 400 10 67
Did you know?
Small hydropower (SHP) plays a key role in
the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
demonstrating the best performances when
it comes to emissions measured on a lifecycle basis.
SHP favours the deployment of other green
technologies (wind and solar).
SHP can support water management
policies.
SHP helps adapting to climate change
through flood and drought control
applications.
Recommendations
More consistency and cooperation is
needed in Europe between the energy
and environmental policies and respective
stakeholders.
Environmental policies should be based
on sound scientific assessment, clear
definitions and a cost-benefit analysis.
Current challenges
European environmental legislation
(Natura 2000, Directives on Environmental
Assessment, Water Framework Directive,
etc.) and national implementing laws can
hinder the development, the operation
and the refurbishment of SHP plants
through some overshooting measures
lacking scientific evidence, consistent
interpretations (e.g. river continuity, heavily
modified water bodies) and clear definitions.
A harmonised framework for interpretation
of European policies is needed with sitespecific evaluation taking into account all
dimensions of sustainability.
SHP should be considered as a technology
that supports water management policies.
A European best-practice guide for meeting
water policy objectives through SHP should
be developed for this purpose.
European and national environmental
policies often overlook the contribution of
SHP to the fight against climate change
through renewable energy production and
support. There is a lack of consistency with
the European Renewable Energy Directive.
Small Hydropower
Sustainable Energy
© France Hydroéléctricité
© France Hydroéléctricité
© France Hydroéléctricité
© France Hydroéléctricité
Small Hydropower
High Quality
Energy
The European Small Hydropower Association (ESHA) is a
federation of European national hydropower associations as well
as members from all sectors of the hydropower field, such as
equipment manufacturers, public utilities, independent producers,
research institutes, investors, industry and consultants.
ESHA represents the interests of the small hydropower sector by
promoting the benefits and opportunities of hydropower (a mature
renewable energy technology) at EU level.
Contact & Info:
European Small Hydropower Association
Renewable Energy House
Rue d’Arlon, 63-65
1040 Brussels (Belgium)
www.esha.be - info@esha.be
+32 2 400 10 67
Did you know?
In general, small hydropower (SHP) stands for a
plant with an installed capacity of up to 10 MW.
With 13,000 MW of total installed capacity in EU27, SHP currently supplies enough electricity for
13 million households.
SHP contributes to around 8% of electricity
production within the renewable energy mix.
SHP is one of the most efficient, reliable and
cost-effective methods to generate electricity.
SHP provides steady, secure and local electricity.
SHP - e.g. through small pumped-hydro plants can support the penetration of variable RES
technologies (e.g. wind, solar), i.e. indirectly
favours their deployment in decentralised areas.
SHP has a large development potential. If the
current policy framework is changed, new SHP
could annually produce additional 50 TWh in the
EU-27. There is also a considerable potential for
refurbishment of older and abandoned SHP sites.
Current challenges
European and national environmental policies
often overlook the contribution of SHP to
renewable energy production. There is a lack of
consistency between environmental policies and
the European Renewable Energy Directive.
Recommendations
European and national policy makers must
consider SHP as an equally important
component of the renewable energy mix.
More consensus and cooperation is
needed in Europe between the energy and
environmental policies and actors.
Decentralisation of energy production
should be supported by granting an
effective primary access of SHP to the
grid, allowing for net-billing (payment for
actual electricity sent to the grid) or/and
authorising SHP producers to directly sell
electricity to third parties.
More research funds should be allocated to
SHP development, in particular concerning
low head technologies, (pumped hydro)
storage and grid access.
SHP faces many administrative barriers to
decentralised renewable energy production.
The licensing procedure for the sector is
currently an extremely time consuming, highly
bureaucratic procedure and with too many
uncertainties. Sometimes national measures
challenge effective access to the grid.
SHP potential to produce flexible energy
solutions is overlooked (storage, pumped-hydro).
Small Hydropower
High Quality Energy
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Small Hydropower
Engine for Growth
The European Small Hydropower Association (ESHA) is a
federation of European national hydropower associations as well
as members from all sectors of the hydropower field, such as
equipment manufacturers, public utilities, independent producers,
research institutes, investors, industry and consultants.
ESHA represents the interests of the small hydropower sector by
promoting the benefits and opportunities of hydropower (a mature
renewable energy technology) at EU level.
Contact & Info:
European Small Hydropower Association
Renewable Energy House
Rue d’Arlon, 63-65
1040 Brussels (Belgium)
www.esha.be - info@esha.be
+32 2 400 10 67
Did you know?
The Small Hydropower (SHP) industry has an
important economic value for Europe with
at least 29,000 direct employees and 4,200
companies working in the sector1.
SHP can support regional development:
agriculture (additional revenues for farmers,
irrigation, flood control), tourism (history of
ancient mills, electricity for touristic attractions
in remote areas) and other benefits to local
communities (water supply, monitoring of
water quality, additional income opportunity for
inhabitants of remote areas and for authorities
through taxes).
The refurbishment of old SHP plants could
generate high incomes for European companies.
1. These figures do not include data from Germany and Austria.
Current challenges
European environmental legislation
and national implementing laws hinder
the development, the operation and the
refurbishment of SHP plants through some
overshooting measures which have a high
impact on the economic viability of the sector.
SHP faces many administrative barriers. The
licensing procedure for the sector is currently an
extremely time consuming, highly bureaucratic
procedure and with too many uncertainties.
The adaptation of certain support schemes can
have an impact on the viability of the sector, in
particular when not being cost-based. Some
evolutions in water rights can also negatively
affect the sector.
Recommendations
Environmental policies should be based on a
cost-benefit analysis to ensure the economic
viability of the SHP sector.
Licensing procedures and issuing permits
should rely on simple, fair, solid &
transparent procedures (‘One-stop shops’).
Fair support mechanisms should take
into account the multipurpose features
of hydropower and the growing costs
arising from operation and environmental
obligations. Effective primary access of SHP
to the grid, net-billing (payment for actual
electricity sent to the grid) or/and authorised
direct selling of electricity to third parties in
the Member States where it is not possible
today are measures that would increase the
competitiveness of SHP, while promoting
decentralised energy production.
Member States should develop strategies
to fully integrate SHP plants in regional
development policies (e.g. touristic activities).
SHP developers and investors lack a fair and
stable policy framework.
Research lacks adequate funding in order to
help the sector to reach its full potential.
Small
Hydropower
Engine for Growth