SPLASH Meeting in Lausanne 1st July 2005 Martin Cahn Energie-CitĂŠs
Conclusions on Best Practice • Local plans are rare – we found few other examples
Mainly utility led • Navarra (1990) –Renewable energy plan for the region centred originally on small hydro (25%) and wind (75%). • Now considered commercial secret due to liberalisation • Wind now in the forefront
Inventory approach Himachal Pradesh • • • •
Funded from UNDP under GEF Major need for hydropower – electricity supply shortage Preparation of inventory of SHP sites to be developed by investors • State owns river bed – so can offer sites to investors • Still need to go through permit process
Inventory Approach British Columbia • • • • •
Examined potential sites in whole state Most sites are 500kW upwards. Large heads – Rocky Mountains Identified supply network – inventory of sites Still have to negotiate and obtain planning & environmental permits • Analogous to Himachal Pradesh Morelake Hydro (115kW)
Community Development Approach South Somerset • Local authority found many small mill owners interested in installing small hydro • Set up an association of mill owners to promote small hydro with local authority support • 11 mills, 150kW total • Cooperative project • Agreed selling price • Obtained grant aid • Now copied in other local authorities,
Community Development Approach Wye Valley AONB • Community Renewables programme supporting renewable energy projects in rural area • Held meeting in Tintern village – proposed installing small hydro in old industrial sites • Feasibility study of Angiddy valley found four sites – potential payback 10-15 yrs • Establishing local cooperative to take forward
SPLASH Examples • Show real innovation – no-one has really planned on a wide scale for small hydro • Includes various approaches: – Strategic plans – sieve maps – Checklists and weighting of constraints – Community development
• Some projects are a mixture of several approaches
Strategic Plans and Sieve Maps • Greece – Grid square based • OK. for general strategy – difficult for specifics • Individual nature of small hydro
• Ireland – Actual area based • Can eliminate good sites • Keeps vociferous objectors at bay
• Portugal – Actual area based • More detailed
Checklist Approach • France – appraisal of rivers for suitability – Linear grid – Weighting checked by experts
Community Development • Portugal – Restoration of mills for tourism – Raising awareness – Local economic development of rural area
• Poland – Restoration of mills for tourism – Raising awareness
Main Problems • Need for strong local authority and water agency support • Need for resources over LONG period of time – local authority planning is very slow • Objectives not only sustainability • Paybacks still remain very long • Limited benefit from communal bidding – projects considered individually
Main Benefits/motors • Two key political drivers are community development and tourism/heritage – rather than tonnes CO2 • Can promote water planning at a larger scale • Some countries – e.g. UK, are developing consistent policies to promote micro-generation • While working together may not provide great help in overcoming the administrative hurdles, it greatly helps maintaining momentum among dispersed miniinvestors. • Plant generally has a very long life once installed
Lessons for EU • Needs consideration in planning – WFD could „make or break” small hydro • Needs significant resources and support – abandonment of mills and small sites over 20th century linked to development of grid • Potential is there but needs programme of support. Secure income over long period lacking
Many thanks Martin Cahn Energie-CitĂŠs 2 chemin de Palente 25000 Besancon +48 12 272 2850 +33 3 81 65 36 81 Martin@tf.com.pl