Hydropower throughout the world provides 17% of our electricity from an installed capacity of some 730GW, making hydropower by far the most important renewable energy for electrical power production. The contribution of Small Hydropower (SHP) to the worldwide electrical capacity is of a similar scale to the other renewable energy sources (1-2% of total capacity), amounting to about 47GW. Europe, with about 12 GW installed capacity, has the second biggest contribution to the World’s installed capacity, just behind Asia.
There is no international consensus on the definition of SHP. In China, it can refer to capacities of up to 25 MW, in India up to 15 MW. However, a capacity of up to 10 MW total is generally becoming accepted in Europe and supported by ESHA and the European Commission.
Small Hydropower plants generate electricity or mechanical power by converting the power available in flowing water of rivers, canals and streams. The objective of a hydropower scheme is to convert the potential energy of a mass of water, flowing in a stream with a certain fall (termed the "head") into electric energy at the lower end of the scheme, where the powerhouse is located. The power of the scheme is proportional to the flow and to the head. A well-designed small hydropower system can blend in with its surroundings and have minimal negative environmental impacts. Small Hydropower schemes are mainly run-of-river with little or no reservoir impoundment. Small hydropower is not simply a reduced version of a large hydro plant. Specific equipment is necessary to meet fundamental requirements with regard to simplicity, high-energy output, and maximum reliability.
Key advantages of SHP
- Environmental protection through CO2 emission reduction
- Proven and reliable technology
- Reduces the dependency on imported fuels
- Improves the diversity of energy supply
- Grid Stability
- Reduced land requirements
- Local and regional development
- Good opportunities for technology export
- Assists in the maintenance of river basins
- Technology suitable for rural electrification in developing countries
- High Energy payback ratio
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Research&Development activities for Small Hydropower aim at developing technology innovations to increase the market penetration of the technology by:
- Further cost reductions, especially in low-head schemes
- Minimising local environmental impacts
- Increasing efficiency and reliability
Market Development
In EU-25 about 17.200 Small Hydropower plants are in operation with a total installed capacity of 11 GW. Italy accounts for about 21% of the total Small Hydropower installed capacity in the EU-25, followed by France (17%) and Spain (16%). Poland and the Czech Republic both with 2% of the total EU-25 capacity are the lions of the new EU Member States.
Potential
Small Hydropower has a huge, as yet untapped potential, which could allow it to make a significant contribution to future energy needs. More than 65 % of all economically feasible potential has been exploited in EU-15 so far. The remaining economically feasible potential amounts to:
Some 20 TWh/year in EU-15
Some 27 TWh/year in the New Member States and Candidate Countries
A large proportion of the potential in Europe involves low-head plants and the refurbishing of existing sites. Outside of Europe there are new opportunities for export and technology transfer that offer good prospects for EU manufacturers; economic growth and an increase in energy needs will govern small hydropower progression. Asia (especially China and India) is set to become a hydro leader. In Africa, where only 5% of hydropower potential has been tapped to date, there are also good prospects.www.erec.org
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