WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

The Stream Map Project recommends the elaboration of
clear and balanced development conditions
(‘sectorielles et intégrales’), in close collaboration with
main stakeholders, in order to balance the interests of
ecosystem and fish protection with the socio-economic
interest of small hydropower. A good equilibrium should
be found related to the environmental constraints
imposed, between the costs that should be supported
by the operator, and the costs that are inherent to the
region’s obligation to fulfill the EU Water Framework
Directive.
Linked to the previous issue, the fact that all
installations will be submitted to environmental permit
is positive since it imposes strict binding delays for
decisions. One recommendation is that all other
discussions or procedures related to the authorization
(AMCE, authorization of modification of the waterway,
for example) should be included in the same procedure,
with the same binding delays.
Small hydropower equipment could be given a clear
development framework, as it is the case for wind
energy development (‘Cadre de Référence’), on the
basis of an exhaustive inventory of the potential, a
regional equipment programme, and if necessary a
public call for developers.
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook. Available from
ww.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. Commission for Electricity and Gas Regulation (2011).
Report to the European Commission. 14 July. Brussels.
4. London Research International (n.d.). Chapter 3:
Belgium. Available from
http://redatabase.com/free_reports/Belgium_pu15.pdf.
5. Indexmundi (2012). Belgium Electricity Imports.
Available from
www.indexmundi.com/belgium/electricity_imports.htm
l. Accessed December 2012.
6. Najdawi, C. and Schachtschneider, R. (2012). Belgium.
Legal Sources on Renewable Energy. Supported by the
European Commission. Available from
http://176.9.160.135/search-by-country/belgium/.
Accessed December 2012.
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