WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.4.4 Germany
European Small Hydropower Association, Stream Map
Key facts
Population 81,305,856 1
Area 357,022km 2
Climate Temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet
winters and summers; occasional warm
mountain (foehn) wind
Topography Lowlands in north, uplands in centre,
Bavarian Alps in south
Rain pattern The average annual precipitation is 789
mm. Decrease of rainfall from west to
east 2
Electricity sector overview
Gross power production in Germany was 612 TWh in
2011 with lignite, coal and nuclear dominating the
electricity mix (figure 1). In September 2012, the power
plant list of the Federal Network Agency included a
gross capacity of 172.4 GW (71.22 GW from renewable
power sources, 67.5 GW are eligible under the Act on
Granting Priority to Renewable Energy Sources (EEG,
Erneuerbare-Energien Gesetz). 3
1%
3%
3%
5%
5%
8%
14%
18%
19%
25%
Biogenic
Hydro
Photovoltaic
Biomass
Heating Oil,
Wind
Natural Gas
Nuclear Energy
Hard Coal
Lignite
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Germany
Source: Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology 4
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
In 2010, Germany had 7,512 small hydropower plants
and a total installed capacity of 1,732 MW (8,043 GWh)
(figure 2). By 2020, the aim is to have 7,800 plants with
a total installed capacity of 1,830 MW (8,600 GWh).
SHP installed
capacity
SHP potential
1732 MW
1830 MW
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Germany
Note: Potential is based on planned capacity by 2020.
Renewable energy policy
Electricity from renewable sources is supported through
a feed-in tariff (FIT). The criteria for eligibility and the
tariff levels are set out in the Act on Granting Priority to
Renewable Energy Sources (EEG). The EEG also
introduced the so-called market premium and the
flexibility premium for plant operators who directly sell
their electricity from renewable sources. Moreover, low
interest loans for investments in new plants are
provided for by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW)
Renewable Energy Programme Standard. 5
A new EEG is on the way with adjusted goals, which will
keep the goal of 80 per cent renewable sources in
electricity production in 2050. It is, however, already
now foreseeable, that the minimum goal of 35 per cent
renewable sources in 2020 will be surpassed. 6
Legislation on small hydropower
Generally the residual flow is regulated to be 30 per
cent of mean low water flow. There are no water use
fees. Concession fees differ from Federal State to
Federal State, e.g. €10,000 (about US$13,000) for 150
kW concession in the state of Hesse. The duration of
new concessions is a minimum of 20 years up to a
maximum of 30 years.
The duration of FIT is 20 years, while the tariffs are
revised every four years. Starting 1 January 2012, the FIT
will be increased by about 10 per cent to:
12.7 euro cents/kWh < 500 kW
8.3 euro cents/kWh < 2 MW
6.3 euro cents/kWh < 5 MW
5.5 euro cents/kWh < 10 MW
5.3 euro cents/kWh < 20 MW
Barriers to small hydropower development
Currently, no further change in support schemes,
permitting ease, and simplification of administration
procedures are underway. The role of small hydropower
(standby energy, storage capacity) in future smart grids
is not yet sufficiently recognized and therefore not
supported by legislative and administrative activity.
Environmental concerns remain, being voiced by various
stakeholders (e.g. NGO, fishing clubs, local
stakeholders).
The EU Renewable Energy Framework Directive has had
no positive impact, while the EU Water Framework
Directive (WFD) has had a negative impact on small
hydropower development. The WFD directive will be
transposed into German law until 2015. The following
mitigation measures regarding environmental impacts
are currently focused on: upstream/downstream fish
ladders, smaller distance between bars of rake cleaners
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