Download SHERPA presentation Leaflet - ESHA

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Project Info
SHERPA
SmAll HydRo EnERgy
EfficiEnt PRomotion
cAmPAign Action

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 trackrecord
of all renewable energy technologies, being a clean
and very efficient renewable energy source. However, recent
growth rates have been disappointing, because:
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.
Small Hydro Energy Efficient Campaign Action, is a European Funded Project in the Framework of
SHERPA 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.

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.
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
Which documentation is
sherpa going to deliver?
SHERPA aims at developing and implementing a concise, welltargeted
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
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
KEY TOPICS

How to ParticiPate in SHerPa activitieS?
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.
Contacts details of ESHA
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
EUROPEAN SMALL HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION
63-65, Rue d’Arlon • B-1040 Brussels • Belgium
T: +32 2 546 1945 • F: +32 2 546 1947
E: info@esha.be • I: www.esha.be
ESHA is founding member of EREC, the European Renewable Energy Council
Printed on Ecological friendly paper (Chlorine-free paper) Design: ACG Brussels. Photo Credits: ESHA, KÖ, SERO, IED, BOKU, GPAE