Technology Status - NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG

European SHP capacity potential [MW]
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
production and/or reduce maintenance costs. Restoration means a more
extensive overhaul of a power plant and can include a change of equipment
and/or an improvement of the civil works. The restoration or refurbishment
of old sites is one of the most promising and cost-effective ways to increase
hydropower generating capacity, as many thousands of old sites developed
in the early part of the past century have been abandoned and may readily be
restored with modern equipment at competitive cost. Proper restoration,
refurbishment and maintenance of these plants would double the European
SHP electricity potential (see Figure 18).
Figure 18
Technical and Real European SHP Capacity Potential
Regional Factors
SHP installed capacity is estimated to grow between 1% and 6% per year
over the next 20 years. Developing countries are likely to experience higher
growth rates than the IEA countries. The largest increase is expected to be in
China. Rapid expansion with significant growth rates of 5% or above are
expected in other areas of Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and North
and sub-Saharan Africa. Central and Eastern Europe are expected to increase
their capacity at a lower growth rate of 2%, mainly through refurbishment
and restoration of old sites. The world market for small hydropower
technology is worth well over USD 1 billion per year.
2
SMALL HYDROPOWER
Restoration New
Real potential Technical potential
Sources: NET Ltd., Switzerland; BlueAGE ESHA study, Lorenzoni et al. (2000). Considers old sites and new plants,
taking into account environmental, legal and economic constraints.
47