SHERPA -Small Hydro Energy Efficient Promotion Campaign Action

Download SHERPA presentation Leaflet

Programme area:

Intelligent Energy For Europe, ALTENER, Renewable Energy, Small Hydropower

Partners

• European Small Hydropower Association, ESHA, Brussels (coordinator)
• Slovenian Small Hydropower Association, SSHA, Slovenia
• Lithuanian Hydropower Association, LHA, Lithuania
• Italian Renewable Energy Producers Association, APER, Italy
• Swedish Renewable Energy Association, SERO, Sweden
• Innovation Energy and Development, IED, France
• Institute of Water Management, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering from University of Natural Resources, IWHW, Austria
• EC Baltic Renewable Energy Centre EC BREC/CLN, Poland
• ADEME, French Agency for Energy and Environment, France

Objective:

To develop a Promotion Campaign on Small Hydropower addressing the challenges and coping with the main barriers in Europe

Benefits:

Strengthening market development of SHP in New Member States, Strengthening implementation and consistency of EU directives, enhance dialogue & involvement of all SHP stakeholders and NGOs, promoting territorial approaches for SHP development.

 Duration:

10/2006 – 09/2008

Description

The European Union and its Member States have made a clear commitment towards renewable energy sources. As far as SHP is concerned, recent growth rates have been disappointing, in comparison with the growth rates of other forms of renewable energy:

•  Numerous institutional barriers exist    
•  Impression that the technology is already mature and fully developed
•  False impression that hydro plants must adversely affect fishing, boating, and other river-leisure interests
•  Contradictions in the implementation of two European Directives (Water Framework Directive - WFD vs. Renewables Electricity Directive RES-e)
•  There is a lack of spatial planning approaches, where he development of SHP is included in local plans

SHERPA aims to make a significant contribution for reducing the barriers that are currently hindering the development of SHP, addressing the challenges and contributing to the uptake of SHP in the new enlarged European Union. The deliverables will not only increase the awareness of politicians and decision makers on SHP as a key renewable energy source but will also create favourable framework conditions for the further uptake of SHP within the European Union. The project specifically addresses the issue of environmental performance of SHP plants, as well as a comprehensive territorial planning approach at the level of water bodies.       

  Expected results

•  Strengthening market development of SHP in New Member States
• Strengthening implementation & consistency of EU directives (RES vs WFD)  
• Disseminating information on the benefits and success stories of SHP through the involvement of SHP stakeholders
• Overcoming major environmental constrains to further SHP development,
• and the promotion of spatial planning and territorial approaches