Hydro power

Generally hydro energy is accepted as an established and developed to the limits. However at present small hydro power plants becomes more and more common. About 11GW of capacity is installed in the EU-27 as small power plants. Small installations (below 15 m of slope) are the most possible form of hydropower development in the nearest future in the EU. The investment cost of the small scale project is: 975-1600 €/kW for small units, 1275-5025 €/kW for medium units and 1550-6050 €/kW in case of large units. Average operation and maintenance costs is about 40 €/(kW*year) for whole small scale projects. Large scale hydro power plants (above 15m) are relatively well developed thus investment cost are also relatively low. Small units cost is between 1450 and 5750 €/kW, from 1125 to 4875 €/kW for medium units and from 850 to 3650 €/kW for large units. Average operating and maintenance cost is about 35 €/(kW*year). However a lot of existing units are relatively elderly and required only renovation to improve their parameters. The upgrading cost of small scale projects is between 900 and 3700 €/kW and in case of large project from 800 to 3600 €/kW. The annual operation time is variable in a wide range from 2200 to 6200 hours annual. It depends from the type of power plant and from function in electrical network. Estimated live time all of described units is about 50 years. [11], [43]

The economic aspect is the main barrier on the hydropower develop. The hydro energy is incorrectly accepted as a mature technology, what provide to containment further researches. [11]

Potent policy of the EU in the RES promotion provides 6 instruments of support for renewable technologies: feed-in tariff system, feed-in premium system, renewable or quota obligations, tax incentives or exemptions, fiscal incentives, investment grants. [43]

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