WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.4.5 Luxembourg
European Small Hydropower Association, Stream Map
Key facts
Population 509,074 1
Area 2,586 km 2
Climate Modified continental with mild winters,
cool summers 1
Topography Mostly gently rolling uplands with broad,
shallow valleys; uplands to slightly
mountainous in the north; steep slope
down to Moselle flood plain in the
southeast 1
Rain
pattern
Average annual precipitation was 733.2
mm. 2
Electricity sector overview
Luxembourg is a net electricity importer, which
produced 3,713 GWh of electricity in 2011, mainly from
thermal power plants (figure 1).
Waste Gas
Wasterw ater Treatment
Photovoltaic
Biogas
Wind
Cogeneration
Hydro including pumping
Thermal
Imported Electricity
0.01%
0.07%
0.32%
0.59%
0.78%
4.78%
13.79%
24.99%
54.67%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Luxembourg
Source: Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation 3 ,
Statistics Portal 4
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
In 2010, Luxembourg had 33 small hydropower plants
and a total installed capacity of 34 MW (100 GWh). By
2020, the aim is to have 42 plants with a total installed
capacity of 44 MW with a total generation of 124 GWh
(figure 2).
SHP installed
capacity
SHP potential
34 MW
44 MW
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Luxembourg
Note: Potential is based on planned capacity by 2020.
The identified potential for producing more hydropower
energy is limited in Luxembourg due to its small country
size. However, its current potential lies in:
One new site on the Sauer river: 5 MW.
Reactivation of 10 micro power plants.
Upgrading of Seo’s power plants; Seo is the main
hydropower generator (95 per cent of the installed
capacity).
According to My Energy and Seo, there are no plans
currently to create new hydropower plants, neither to
reactivate/upgrade old sites. The renewable electricity
consumption will be more than four times higher in
2020 than in 2005; the growth should mainly be sourced
from photovoltaic, wind and biomass.
Renewable energy policy
Electricity from renewable sources is mainly promoted
through a feed-in tariff (FIT) as well as through
subsidies.
Legislation on small hydropower
The residual flow is decided on a case by case basis.
There are various support schemes including FIT and
investment subsidies available for small hydropower.
The FIT, applicable since January 2008, is higher than in
the previous system and guaranteed for 15 years with
an annual degression rate of 0.25 per cent since 2008.
Up to 1 MW: €105/MWh (about US$136.6/MWh)
From 1 MW to 6 MW: €85/MWh (about
US$110.6/MWh)
The investment subsidies provide a percentage of the
eligible expenses which are the difference between the
costs of the investment in hydropower and the costs of
investment in a gas-powered station with equivalent
power. The percentage of the eligible expenses varies
with the size of the company, from 65 per cent to 45 per
cent. The investment subsidies applicable since January
2010 are more appropriate.
Barriers to small hydropower development
Lacking concrete information on small hydropower
potential is the main barrier for Luxembourg. The
Stream Map Project recommends the Energy Agency to
develop a programme to reactivate/upgrade the micro
power plants which were identified in the 2007 report.
A clear estimate of the practical potential for expanding
hydropower production within Luxembourg is needed,
therefore a comprehensive study, using a geographic
information system (GIS) based computer model, should
be carried out.
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook: Luxembourg. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
2. Institut national de la statistique et des études
économiques (2011). Statec. Le Luxembourg en chiffres
399