SHERPA

SmAll HydRo EnERgy

EfficiEnt PRomotion

cAmPAign Action

Project Info

With support from:

In the framework of the European Directive on the promotion of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources (RES-e) and the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union has to develop

Renewable Energy Sources (RES): indeed, European targets have been set for renewables - a share of 12% of renewable energy in gross inland energy consumption, and a share of 22% for green electricity, by 2010 - and the policy framework has been shaped, following the objectives of environmental protection, ensuring sustainable security of energy supply by reducing dependence on energy imports and the improvement of industrial competitiveness and having a positive impact on regional development and employment. For of all these reasons the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources is a high Community priority. The European policy framework for renewable energy gives Member States a reason to look at Small Hydropower (SHP), because it has the best track-record of all renewable energy technologies, being a clean and very efficient renewable energy source. However, recent growth rates have been disappointing, because:

SHERPA Small Hydro Energy Efficient Campaign Action, is a European Funded Project in the Framework of the Intelligent Energy for Europe Programme (IEE). SHERPA aims to make a significant contribution

in 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 results of SHERPA 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. ESHA, the European Small Hydropower Association, is the European co-ordinator of this project, which includes eight additional partners:

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 French Energy and Environment Agency, ADEME, France

SHERPA will run for 24 months starting from October 2006.

Numerous institutional barriers for further SHP developments still exist.

Impression that the technology is already mature and fully developed, despite the existing remaining potential.

Impression that hydro plants must adversely affect river ecosystems, when a well-designed SHP plant should blend in with its surroundings and have minimal negative environmental impacts.

The inconsistency 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 the development of SHP is included in local plans, putting great emphasis on environmental integration.

KEY TO

PICS

What are the key topics of sherpa?

Strengthen market development of SHP in New Member States: in order to facilitate this process, it is proposed to promote policy dialogue and information dissemination on SHP, that will foster the market penetration of SHP.

Strengthen implementation and consistency of EU directives: (RES-e directive and SHP targets of White Paper, WFD); To ensure the effectiveness and complementarity of future policy instruments, policy fora will be organised as platforms to address issues such as WFD vs RES-e, targets, licensing process, support schemes, territorial planning approaches etc.

Improving SHP public image: public image campaigning, addressing specifically the issue of environmental integration: through best practice examples on environmental integration, public image folders, and workshops for dialogue with NGOs and environmentalists.

Strengthen the implementation of local territorial approaches: to overcome major environmental constraints to further SHP development and through the implementation of comprehensive analysis at the level of the water bodies, with strong participatory approach and clear involvement of local authorities.

Which documentation is sherpa going to deliver?

SHERPA aims at developing and implementing a concise, well-targeted and thematic approach to ensure the dissemination and market uptake of SHP in Europe, through publications, workshops, policy fora etc. The main deliverables are:

Report on Status of SHP Policy Frameworks & Market Development in EU-25

Public image folders for SHP Report on technical and operational procedures to better integrate Small hydro plants in the environment

Report on mechanisms of social engineering Report on ISO 14001 and SHP Assessment of power productivity with reference to objectives and targets set by WFD and RES-e directives

Who are the key actors and the main target group?

Politicians at EU, national, regional as well as local level Experts and decision makers European SHP industry NGOs, environmentalists

Economic analysis of environmental mitigation activities and equipment for SHP

SHP local plans in France and Italy Good practice brochure of participatory approach for SHP development

SHERPA Policy session in Hidroenergia 2008, Bled, Slovenia

SHP National Policy Fora in Lithuania, France, Italy, Poland and Sweden

Contacts details of ESHA

EUROPEAN SMALL HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION63-65, Rue d’Arlon • B-1040 Brussels • BelgiumT: +32 2 546 1945 • F: +32 2 546 1947E: info@esha.be • I: www.esha.beESHA is founding member of EREC, the European Renewable Energy Council

SHERPA activities are open to different stakeholders (SHP industry, environmentalists, Politicians, NGOS) willing to participate. Environmental stakeholders are welcome to be involved in developing the different activities of the project, essentially for reviewing and drafting project results, and participating in workshops and policy fora.

If you want to know more about SHERPA, please visit SHERPA website at www.esha.be/sherpa or send an email to Maria Laguna at maria.laguna@esha.be

Printed on Ecological friendly paper (Chlorine-free paper) Design: ACG Brussels. Photo Credits: ESHA, KÖ, SERO, IED, BOKU, GPAE

How to ParticiPate in SHerPa activitieS?