Technology Status - NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG

● Market
Installed capacity [MW]
42
The global installed SHP capacity was 32 GW in 2000. Most capacity is
installed in Europe with 12.5 GW, followed by China with 9.5 GW and North
America with slightly more than 5 GW. Higher and different capacity figures
(especially for Asia) are reported on the basis of different SHP definitions.
Europe added capacity in the range of 30% from 1980 to 2000, tapping a
good deal of its developable potential. The rest of the world increased
capacity by a factor of 2 in the same period.
Figure 15
SHP Installed Capacity in EU and Worldwide between 1980 and 2000
SHP was the leading “new” renewable source of electricity in terms of
installed capacity and production worldwide in 2002, but has been overtaken
by wind power in 2003. China offers the most dynamic market for SHP
technology. In Europe, more than 17,000 SHP plants supply 1.7% of European
electricity or 9.7% of total hydropower. The share of SHP in total hydropower
installed capacity is 2.5% in Canada, 4% in the USA and 5% in China.
● Environment
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Capacity installed in Europe 9,500 10,250 11,000 11,750 12,500
Global capacity installed 17,000 19,000 22,000 26,000 32,000
Sources : NET Ltd. Switzerland, raw data from EUREC Agency, BlueAge ESHA study, Lorenzoni et al. (2000), IASH,
Small Hydro Atlas.
SHP carries both environmental benefits and costs, and must be managed
well to limit local environmental damage. Depending on the type of SHP
plant, peak and/or base-load electricity can be produced, although
SMALL HYDROPOWER X2