Small hydropower policy framework in the new EU Member States and Associated countries

Abstract

This paper reports on small hydropower (SHP) policy framework in 15 countries, mainly focusing on the progress of achievement of the RES-E Directive ( 2001/7'VEC) national targets by SHP electricity contribution, administrative and regulatory issues, supporting policy instruments to promote the SHP industry and identification market and other barriers which hinder sustainable exploitation of small hydropower resources. Social and public acceptances of SHP plants are also discussed in the paper. The main conclusion derived is that the administrative and regulatory barriers seem to be most severe in most cases. Environmental barriers are also of big concern for a number of investigated countries