WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

Cyprus has an isolated energy system, having no Table 2
electricity interconnections with other countries due
to its island nature. It is almost entirely dependent on
imported fossil fuels, natural gas is prominent in
electricity generation. It plans to achieve 13 per cent
of energy from renewable energy sources by 2020.
The renewable energy sources encouraged in the
country include wind, solar thermal, photovoltaic and
biomass/biogas.
The Caucasus region (Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia) is included in the European Union’s
neighborhood policy. All three countries have similar
objectives with respect to diversifying their energy
sources and benefiting from their location on energy
transit routes.
Turkey’s electricity demands are met primarily by
combustible fuels which include coal, oil and natural
gas; hydropower, geothermal, solar and wind are also
used. Besides being an oil producer and an overall
energy exporter, Turkey’s role as an oil transit country
is increasingly important. In September 2010, Turkey
integrated its electricity network with the European
grid which has significantly stabilized the electricity
supply.
Population growth, urbanization, improving living
standards and surging development in economic
sectors (industry, natural resources and agriculture)
affect availability of water and its quality. Variable
hydrological regimes in the two most resourceful
rivers, Tigris and Euphrates, have resulted in the
under-utilization of hydropower plants, with water
turbines being shut in many cases. Cross border
cooperation in water resources is essential to sustain
hydropower and other water end uses. For example,
Iraq has no binding agreements with Turkey, Syrian
Arab Republic and Iran on water management and
sharing. Water projects in Turkey and Syrian Arab
Republic have a strong impact on Iraq in terms of
water storage and hydropower utilization.
Undoubtedly, water being the most vulnerable natural
resource in the region, transboundary water
management and cooperation is essential to
sustainable regional development.
Small hydropower definition
Small hydropower definition in the Western Asia
region is not standardized, thus, some countries have
its own definition (table 2). Armenia changed its small
hydropower plant definition in 2012. 7
295
Classification of small hydropower in Western Asia
(Megawatts)
Country
Small
(MW)
Armenia (up to 2011) < 10
Armenia < 30
Azerbaijan 0.050 - ≤ 10
Georgia < 13
Iraq ..
Jordan ..
Lebanon ..
Turkey ..
Sources: See country reports
Regional overview and potential
Eight countries utilize small hydropower in Western
Asia, i.e. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq,
Jordan, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey (table 1).
Cyprus is not included in this report as there is very
limited small hydropower potential, considering its
issues with water shortages in the past years. Cyprus’s
hydropower contribution to the total electricity
generation is negligible, with a mere 0.65 MW
installed capacity (2 GWh/year) of a single plant.
Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority has accepted 330
kW of small hydropower capacity as contribution
under their renewable energy source scheme.
Hydropower in Cyprus currently offers limited
opportunities which are not commercially profitable. 8
9
On the other hand, Turkey has in recent years
experienced an increased interest in renewable
energy projects (e.g. hydropower and wind power)
from the European Investment Bank and project
financing in the field of renewable energy, energy
efficiency and climate change mitigation projects,
collectively amounting to 200 million Euro (about
US$260 million). 10 Moreover, Armenia, Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Turkey are also members of Inogate
Programme as a part of regional energy technical
cooperation programme among the European Union
countries, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central
Asia. The Inogate Programme has supported these
four countries in the Western Asia region and
continues to do so in energy issues including
electricity integration, renewable energy and energy
efficiency promotion and development. This could
imply greater use of small hydropower plants in the
near future.
Lebanon’s small hydropower sector however,
produces a low output as water resources are scarce
and most of it is directed towards irrigation.
Conversely, Iraq has access to potential hydropower,
however current political instability hinders
investment and development. Yet, the Iraqi
Government currently has a study on hydropower use
underway in addition to a strategy for water and land