WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

A bill submitted by the Government to Parliament in the
spring of 2011 proposes tightening up the qualification
requirements for hydropower. On top of the incomes
from electricity producers (in approved plants) selling
power to the market, one certificate unit is allocated for
each megawatt-hour of electricity for up to 15 years.
The price for certificates is set by the interaction
between the supply and demand like any other market
and has varied over the years between 1.1 euro
cent/kWh (June 2003) and 4.0 euro cents/kWh (August
2008). The certificate system will be in place until the
end of 2035.
Environmental impact assessments are required
(including consultations, meetings with individuals and
organizations), as well as a recommendation by the
Environment Court hearing the case. The Environment
Court gives out the permit and a review of the permit
may then occur after 10 years, assessing the benefits of
a measure to be taken compared to its consistency. This
often in directly force the water plant owners to give 5-
20 per cent of the water flow without compensation.
Barriers to small hydropower development
The EU Renewable Directive 2009/28/EC (by 2020) has
not resulted in any changes for small hydropower in
Sweden. The EU Water Framework Directive is
implemented under the Swedish Law and the effect of
the directive in reality will only be known after a
Swedish court ruling.
The residual flow is generally not regulated by law. For
existing plants a trial may be made, which most of the
time leads to demands on residual flow of about 5–20
per cent without any compensation to the owner.
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/.
2. European Small Hydropower Association (2008). Small
Hydropower Energy Efficiency Campaign Action:
Strategic Study for the Development of Small Hydro
Power in the European Union.
3. Energimyndigheten – Swedish Energy Agency (2012).
Energilaeget I siffror 2011 (in Swedish).
4. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21 st Century
(2011). 2011 Global Status Report. Paris: REN21
Secretariat.
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