{"id":5087,"date":"2018-08-23T01:15:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T23:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/?page_id=5087"},"modified":"2025-06-17T10:29:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T08:29:18","slug":"small-and-micro-hydropower","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/small-and-micro-hydropower\/","title":{"rendered":"Hydro &#8211; Small and Micro Hydropower"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-o3vofz-b3fe80dd0ee6eb6558d7fae8f0c64574\">\n.flex_column.av-o3vofz-b3fe80dd0ee6eb6558d7fae8f0c64574{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-o3vofz-b3fe80dd0ee6eb6558d7fae8f0c64574 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mbutfjtd-58b22464252853813145a59653ded66e\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mbutfjtd-58b22464252853813145a59653ded66e{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mbutfjtd-58b22464252853813145a59653ded66e .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mbutfjtd-58b22464252853813145a59653ded66e .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mbutfjtd-58b22464252853813145a59653ded66e av-special-heading-h2 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Small and micro-hydro<\/h2><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_below'><p>A development everywhere in Europe, an alarming boom in France!<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='hr av-lqgtzz-8f986891e57ee48040b913e17dda7911 hr-default  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mbutg0fr-6e919122c7bc4f9dbebde23a0f5b3c3e '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"text-align: left;\">In France and in many European countries, the categories of hydropower plants are defined according to the power of the plant:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">pico-power: &lt;20 kW<br \/>\nmicro-hydro: from 20 kW to 500 kW<br \/>\nmini power plant: from 500 kW to 2 MW<br \/>\nsmall power plant: from 2 to 10 MW<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Globally, the term &#8220;small hydropower&#8221; is used for power plants with a capacity of &lt;10MW.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='togglecontainer av-keqifj-04bd45e9cb1600afa88fce42fe810c9f  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  toggle_close_all' >\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-iyz33j-7956f9bbaeeb9696a5dc7ade4e5da8cc'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-1' class='toggler   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-1'>D\u00e9finition de la petite et de la micro hydro\u00e9lectricit\u00e9 en Europe<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-1' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color '  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Il n\u2019y a pas d\u2019accord explicite entre les \u00c9tats membres de l\u2019UE sur la d\u00e9finition de la petite hydro\u00e9lectricit\u00e9.<br \/>\nDans l\u2019ensemble, en France et dans beaucoup de pays europ\u00e9ens, on pourra consid\u00e9rer comme petite toute centrale jusqu\u2019\u00e0 10 MW.\u00a0 Cette r\u00e8gle est accept\u00e9e par six \u00c9tats membres, l\u2019ESHA, la Commission europ\u00e9enne et l\u2019UNIPEDE (United Nations Institution of Producers and Distributors of Electricity). Ainsi , on pourra parler de<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2013 petite centrale hydraulique de 0,5 \u00e0 10 MW<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2013 micro-centrale de 20 \u00e0 500 \u00a0KW<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2013 pico-centrale en dessous de 20 KW<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>En Allemagne : la petite centrale hydraulique est inf\u00e9rieure \u00e0 1 MW. Certains pays comme le Portugal, l\u2019Espagne, l\u2019Irlande et maintenant aussi la Gr\u00e8ce, l\u2019Autriche et la Belgique acceptent 10 MW comme limite sup\u00e9rieure de la capacit\u00e9 install\u00e9e. En Italie, la limite est fix\u00e9e \u00e0 3 MW (les centrales ayant une capacit\u00e9 install\u00e9e plus \u00e9lev\u00e9e doivent vendre l\u2019\u00e9lectricit\u00e9 \u00e0 un prix inf\u00e9rieur) et en Su\u00e8de \u00e0 1,5 MW. En France, la limite a r\u00e9cemment \u00e9t\u00e9 fix\u00e9e \u00e0 12 MW. Il ne s\u2019agit pas de la limite explicite de la petite hydro\u00e9lectricit\u00e9, mais de la valeur maximale de la capacit\u00e9 install\u00e9e pour laquelle le r\u00e9seau a l\u2019obligation d\u2019acheter de l\u2019\u00e9lectricit\u00e9 provenant d\u2019\u00e9nergies renouvelables. En Angleterre, il n\u2019y a pas d\u2019opinion ferme bien que 10 MW soit g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement accept\u00e9 comme le seuil pour la petite hydro\u00e9lectricit\u00e9.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/p><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-4290yn-51a8f4b0e97a0fb3a7cd366e8dda435e\">\n.flex_column.av-4290yn-51a8f4b0e97a0fb3a7cd366e8dda435e{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-4290yn-51a8f4b0e97a0fb3a7cd366e8dda435e av_one_third  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_two_third  el_before_av_two_third  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p><div  id=\"avia-magazine-1\"  class='av-magazine av-kt9y4rbm-e4bb784cc9be8bfd3a9fccb63f8da08f av-magazine-top-bar-active av-magazine-tabs-active  avia-builder-el-6  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first   avia-builder-el-6  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first ' ><div class='av-magazine-top-bar '><span class='av-magazine-top-heading '>News<\/span><\/div><div class='av-magazine-group sort_all'><article class='av-magazine-entry av-magazine-entry-id-21536 av-magazine-format-standard av-magazine-type-post av-magazine-entry-1 av-magazine-entry-small '  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class=\"av-magazine-thumbnail\"><a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/another-hydroelectric-power-station-authorized-on-an-ecologically-sensitive-river\/' title='Link to: Another hydroelectric power station authorized on an ecologically sensitive river' class='av-magazine-thumbnail-link'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2016\/11\/site_ern_black_green_hydro-80x80.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-903 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-903 attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2016\/11\/site_ern_black_green_hydro-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2016\/11\/site_ern_black_green_hydro-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2016\/11\/site_ern_black_green_hydro-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2016\/11\/site_ern_black_green_hydro-325x321.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2016\/11\/site_ern_black_green_hydro-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"av-magazine-content-wrap\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><time class='av-magazine-time updated'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-05-24T14:58:59+02:00\" >24 May 2025<\/time><h3 class='av-magazine-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/another-hydroelectric-power-station-authorized-on-an-ecologically-sensitive-river\/' title='Link to: Another hydroelectric power station authorized on an ecologically sensitive river'>Another hydroelectric power station authorized on an ecologically sensitive river<\/a><\/h3><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><article class='av-magazine-entry av-magazine-entry-id-20717 av-magazine-format-standard av-magazine-type-post av-magazine-entry-2 av-magazine-entry-small '  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class=\"av-magazine-thumbnail\"><a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/disparition-de-philippe-auclerc-et-laurent-roy-hommage\/' title='Link to: Disparition de Philippe Auclerc et Laurent Roy : hommage' class='av-magazine-thumbnail-link'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2017\/02\/champtoceau_P6220170_roberto_epple-80x80.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-1609 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-1609 attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"La loire \u00e0 Champtoceau\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2017\/02\/champtoceau_P6220170_roberto_epple-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2017\/02\/champtoceau_P6220170_roberto_epple-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2017\/02\/champtoceau_P6220170_roberto_epple-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2017\/02\/champtoceau_P6220170_roberto_epple-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2017\/02\/champtoceau_P6220170_roberto_epple-450x450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"av-magazine-content-wrap\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><time class='av-magazine-time updated'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-03-20T09:42:31+01:00\" >20 March 2025<\/time><h3 class='av-magazine-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/disparition-de-philippe-auclerc-et-laurent-roy-hommage\/' title='Link to: Disparition de Philippe Auclerc et Laurent Roy : hommage'>Disparition de Philippe Auclerc et Laurent Roy : hommage<\/a><\/h3><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><article class='av-magazine-entry av-magazine-entry-id-20419 av-magazine-format-standard av-magazine-type-post av-magazine-entry-3 av-magazine-entry-small '  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class=\"av-magazine-thumbnail\"><a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/fontgombault-en-fonctionnement-benavent-saint-gaultier-ruffec-les-projets-de-microcentrales-sur-la-creuse-se-sarretent-plus\/' title='Link to: Fontgombault (in operation), B\u00e9navent, Saint-Gaultier, Ruffec &#8211; the number of micro-power projects on the Creuse River continues to grow' class='iconfont av-magazine-entry-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue836' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/div><div class=\"av-magazine-content-wrap\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><time class='av-magazine-time updated'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2024-12-12T10:40:45+01:00\" >12 December 2024<\/time><h3 class='av-magazine-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/fontgombault-en-fonctionnement-benavent-saint-gaultier-ruffec-les-projets-de-microcentrales-sur-la-creuse-se-sarretent-plus\/' title='Link to: Fontgombault (in operation), B\u00e9navent, Saint-Gaultier, Ruffec &#8211; the number of micro-power projects on the Creuse River continues to grow'>Fontgombault (in operation), B\u00e9navent, Saint-Gaultier, Ruffec &#8211; the number of micro-power projects on the Creuse River continues to grow<\/a><\/h3><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><article class='av-magazine-entry av-magazine-entry-id-20068 av-magazine-format-standard av-magazine-type-post av-magazine-entry-4 av-magazine-entry-small '  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class=\"av-magazine-thumbnail\"><a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/depuis-lundi-7-octobre-le-barrage-de-poutes-est-ouvert\/' title='Link to: Opening of the Pout\u00e8s dam on Monday 7 October' class='av-magazine-thumbnail-link'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/12\/Poutes-20210930_DJI_0245-lowres-plus-claire-cr-ERN-SOS-LV-Roberto-Epple-80x80.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15899 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-15899 attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/12\/Poutes-20210930_DJI_0245-lowres-plus-claire-cr-ERN-SOS-LV-Roberto-Epple-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/12\/Poutes-20210930_DJI_0245-lowres-plus-claire-cr-ERN-SOS-LV-Roberto-Epple-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/12\/Poutes-20210930_DJI_0245-lowres-plus-claire-cr-ERN-SOS-LV-Roberto-Epple-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"av-magazine-content-wrap\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><time class='av-magazine-time updated'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2024-10-10T11:49:00+02:00\" >10 October 2024<\/time><h3 class='av-magazine-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/depuis-lundi-7-octobre-le-barrage-de-poutes-est-ouvert\/' title='Link to: Opening of the Pout\u00e8s dam on Monday 7 October'>Opening of the Pout\u00e8s dam on Monday 7 October<\/a><\/h3><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-gpu4rz-7c5b9f5e9c6c596c0e8def72bb08ce9b\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-gpu4rz-7c5b9f5e9c6c596c0e8def72bb08ce9b{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-gpu4rz-7c5b9f5e9c6c596c0e8def72bb08ce9b hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_magazine  el_before_av_button_big  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last '>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1w90zz-e6316ed4730591647b01f1bd484bbb3e\">\n#top #wrap_all .avia-button.av-1w90zz-e6316ed4730591647b01f1bd484bbb3e:hover{\ncolor:white;\n-webkit-transition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n-moz-transition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n-ms-transition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n-o-transition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\ntransition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n}\n<\/style>\n<a href='https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/hydropower\/' class='avia-color-theme-color avia-font-color-theme-color avia-button avia-button-fullwidth av-1w90zz-e6316ed4730591647b01f1bd484bbb3e avia-icon_select-no avia-color-theme-color'  target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" ><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Is Hydropower green energy ?<\/span><span class='avia_button_background avia-button avia-button-fullwidth avia-color-theme-color-highlight'><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-fslxi7-2ae6308d9c5f25fc6d2d8d9ce7b54b61\">\n.flex_column.av-fslxi7-2ae6308d9c5f25fc6d2d8d9ce7b54b61{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-fslxi7-2ae6308d9c5f25fc6d2d8d9ce7b54b61 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_one_third  el_before_av_one_third  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mbutgh19-c0bfd0cd6d238fa8b4f693964cba1646 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>The share of small hydro in Europe<\/h3>\n<p>Hydropower accounts for about 80% of electricity generation from renewable resources in Europe and 19% of total electricity generation in Europe. The share of small hydropower in Europe&#8217;s electricity generation is about 3%.<\/p>\n<p><strong>According to a study by the European Small Hydropower Association (ESHA)<\/strong> in 2004, there were about 14,000 small hydropower plants with a total capacity of 10,000 MW in operation in the EU-15 at that time. They provide an annual production of about 40,000 GWh. In the new Member States (EU-10), there are about 2,800 small hydro plants with a total capacity of 820 MW and an average annual production of 2,300 GWh.<\/p>\n<p>In the candidate countries (CC), there are about 400 plants with a total capacity of 600 MW and an average annual production of 1,400 GWh. The average capacity of individual plants is 0.3 MW in the EU15, 0.3 MW in the new Member States and 1.6 MW in the accession countries. <strong>According to Eurostat figures for 2002<\/strong>, the largest share of total small hydro capacity in the EU-25 was installed in Italy, with 21%, followed by France, with 17%, and Spain, with 16%. Among the new Member States, Poland and the Czech Republic lead with 2% each of the total small hydro capacity in the EU-25.<\/p>\n<p><strong>According to the EU RES export plan of 2002<\/strong>, the economically viable potential in Europe is about 250 TWh per year, which corresponds to a capacity of 55 GW. An additional 450 TWh per year or a capacity of 100 GW seems to be technically but economically unfeasible at present.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-e4pxrj-1a11298ba4dd158914f7f78bd473bb1e\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-e4pxrj-1a11298ba4dd158914f7f78bd473bb1e{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-e4pxrj-1a11298ba4dd158914f7f78bd473bb1e hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mbutif75-1d3cb72c2bf6dd8f13bbd78abb17b412 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>Boom in small and micro power plants: the worrying case of France!<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15355 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/09\/Graphe-hydro1-1030x865.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"425\" height=\"366\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In France, there are approximately 2,270 power plants with a capacity of &lt;10 MW, which corresponds to 2,200 MW of installed capacity in the country.<\/p>\n<p>Small hydroelectric power plants are essentially run-of-river plants, without a dam or reservoir. They are most often equipped with a small dam that creates a head. This head, combined with the flow of the river, determines the power of the plant expressed in kilowatts (kW).<\/p>\n<p>Most of the small power plants receive very advantageous subsidies thanks to the buy-back of electricity at a price much higher than the market price or thanks to a premium (called complement of remuneration). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france-hydro-electricite.fr\/les-contrats-dobligations-dachat-existants\/\">France Hydro Electricit\u00e9<\/a> estimated the number of purchase contracts at the end of 2019 at 2,054 for approximately 2,000 MW.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/09\/Synthese_soutien_petitehydro_V2_29042021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&gt; PDF on the subsidization of small hydro (french only)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>However, these only total 1.9 GW of installed electrical power, or about 7% of the total power of the French hydroelectric fleet, and produce less than 1% of national electricity consumption!<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cre.fr\/Documents\/Publications\/Rapports-thematiques\/couts-et-rentabilites-de-la-petite-hydroelectricite-en-metropole-continentale\">&gt; Find a complete report from the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) on the costs and profitability of small hydro in 2020. (french only)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-d4u54v-c1a10793b57e49ae32d3a7518f0a8588\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-d4u54v-c1a10793b57e49ae32d3a7518f0a8588{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-d4u54v-c1a10793b57e49ae32d3a7518f0a8588 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mbutirp6-84f32ae32efa6750df0155aac55e366b '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>This development of small hydroelectric power plants is in total contradiction with the policies of restoration of aquatic environments<\/h3>\n<p>Against the backdrop of the energy transition and the self-consumption law, which provide a favorable legal framework, small hydropower continues to develop. It benefits from subsidies and regulated feed-in tariffs. Finally, building a micro-hydro plant becomes an interesting financial operation for owners and project owners while satisfying the ecological and climatic conscience!<\/p>\n<p>Most sites with energy potential are already equipped. The areas at stake are now in the front line, regardless of the efforts made to restore or preserve them. This is as much the case on jewel rivers in national parks as on other rivers classified in list 1 and list 2. The smallest waterfall is coveted for equipment: weirs, mills in the front line &#8211; taking advantage of possible &#8220;right of title&#8221; &#8211; but spared sites are not left out.<\/p>\n<p>These new projects, located for the most part on assembly rivers and in chains, have disproportionate impacts on aquatic ecosystems with regard to the production of electricity generated: destruction of protected species and habitats, fish mortality and injuries in turbines and spillways, degradation of habitats in short-circuited sections, degraded ecological continuity, alteration of water quality, risk of degradation of the state of the water body, etc. for a few kWh.<br \/>\nThis is as much the case on jewel rivers in national parks (for more information, see the brochure <span class=\"corpstexte\"><em><a title=\"Lien permanent : Les projets de microcentrales mena\u00e7ent les rivi\u00e8res sauvages\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ern.org\/fr\/les-projets-de-microcentrales-menacent-les-rivieres-sauvages\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Les projets de microcentrales menacent les rivi\u00e8res sauvages<\/a><\/em><\/span>) as on migration routes for large migratory species (Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, shad, eel&#8230;). Yet their protection is required by the classification according to Article L214-17, the SDAGE Loire Bretagne and the Management Plan for Migratory Fish (PLAGEPOMI).<\/p>\n<p>At a time when the resilience of ecosystems must be improved, micro- and micro-power plants increase the pressure on already fragile environments in the midst of transformation and adaptation to climate change. What is the long-term vision of these projects? Will the production (and therefore the economic benefits) always be there, given the episodes of drought, even in winter, the decrease in annual flows and the changes in the distribution of rainfall already observed? It is a salty bill which will await us if we let these projects of private interest condemn our heritage.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/hydropower\/\">&gt; See our webpage on hydroelectricity<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-2z47db-27963a55cb9d8bf90edc5892a2de60ae '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>This development of small hydroelectric power plants is in total contradiction with the policies of restoration of aquatic environments<\/h3>\n<p>Against the backdrop of the energy transition and the self-consumption law, which provide a favorable legal framework, small hydropower continues to develop. It benefits from subsidies and regulated feed-in tariffs. Finally, building a micro-hydro plant becomes an interesting financial operation for owners and project owners while satisfying the ecological and climatic conscience!<\/p>\n<p>Most sites with energy potential are already equipped. The areas at stake are now in the front line, regardless of the efforts made to restore or preserve them. This is as much the case on jewel rivers in national parks as on other rivers classified in list 1 and list 2. The smallest waterfall is coveted for equipment: weirs, mills in the front line &#8211; taking advantage of possible &#8220;right of title&#8221; &#8211; but spared sites are not left out.<\/p>\n<p>These new projects, located for the most part on assembly rivers and in chains, have disproportionate impacts on aquatic ecosystems with regard to the production of electricity generated: destruction of protected species and habitats, fish mortality and injuries in turbines and spillways, degradation of habitats in short-circuited sections, degraded ecological continuity, alteration of water quality, risk of degradation of the state of the water body, etc. for a few kWh.<br \/>\nThis is as much the case on jewel rivers in national parks (for more information, see the brochure <span class=\"corpstexte\"><em><a title=\"Lien permanent : Les projets de microcentrales mena\u00e7ent les rivi\u00e8res sauvages\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ern.org\/fr\/les-projets-de-microcentrales-menacent-les-rivieres-sauvages\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Les projets de microcentrales menacent les rivi\u00e8res sauvages<\/a><\/em><\/span>) as on migration routes for large migratory species (Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, shad, eel&#8230;). Yet their protection is required by the classification according to Article L214-17, the SDAGE Loire Bretagne and the Management Plan for Migratory Fish (PLAGEPOMI).<\/p>\n<p>At a time when the resilience of ecosystems must be improved, micro- and micro-power plants increase the pressure on already fragile environments in the midst of transformation and adaptation to climate change. What is the long-term vision of these projects? Will the production (and therefore the economic benefits) always be there, given the episodes of drought, even in winter, the decrease in annual flows and the changes in the distribution of rainfall already observed? It is a salty bill which will await us if we let these projects of private interest condemn our heritage.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/hydropower\/\">&gt; See our webpage on hydroelectricity<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-yqbn3-62e101d613851ca8013b013248961e4f\">\n.flex_column.av-yqbn3-62e101d613851ca8013b013248961e4f{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nbackground-color:rgba(168,107,3,0.5);\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-yqbn3-62e101d613851ca8013b013248961e4f av_one_third  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_two_third  el_before_av_two_third  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-6zpjcf-5a8fc096bcf007f5b49d0b75c4ad6ae0\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-6zpjcf-5a8fc096bcf007f5b49d0b75c4ad6ae0{\nheight:2px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-6zpjcf-5a8fc096bcf007f5b49d0b75c4ad6ae0 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-17  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mbutlowa-54f5a9e852d54d79f4dc591066493d08\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mbutlowa-54f5a9e852d54d79f4dc591066493d08{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mbutlowa-54f5a9e852d54d79f4dc591066493d08 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mbutlowa-54f5a9e852d54d79f4dc591066493d08 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mbutlowa-54f5a9e852d54d79f4dc591066493d08 av-special-heading-h4 blockquote modern-quote modern-centered  avia-builder-el-18  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Our case studies in France<\/h4><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mbutnjq7-6e93f8583c6c488e96fdf7006548df74\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-mbutnjq7-6e93f8583c6c488e96fdf7006548df74 .avia_textblock{\ncolor:#000000;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mbutnjq7-6e93f8583c6c488e96fdf7006548df74 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock av_inherit_color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/fr\/vichy-non-au-projet-de-centrale-hydro\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14135 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/03\/barragevichy-300x118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/03\/barragevichy-300x118.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/03\/barragevichy.jpg 694w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>A hydroelectric power station on the Vichy dam (Allier, salmon river)<\/strong><br \/>\n&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/vichy-dam\/\">see our dedicated webpage<\/a><br \/>\n&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org\/downloads\/giving_a_dam_how_hydropower_is_destroying_europes_rivers_vichy.pdf\">factsheet in english<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2023\/06\/20230622_FicheOFB_Vichy-1_compressed.pdf\">factsheet in french<\/a>\u00a0(derni\u00e8re mise \u00e0 jour, mars 2023)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/12\/FicheOFB_Descartes_compressed.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ern-sosloirevivante.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Descartes.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"157\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Descartes dam on the Creuse river, 1st obstacle since the ocean, soon equipped !<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/12\/FicheOFB_Descartes_compressed.pdf\">&gt;&gt; factsheet (in french only)\u00a0<\/a>( derni\u00e8re mise \u00e0 jour, novembre 2021)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.change.org\/photos\/3\/oo\/yu\/hYooYUzDYovpWlT-800x450-noPad.jpg?1623059127\" width=\"286\" height=\"161\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>A power plant at Ebreuil (03) (Sioule, tributary of the Allier)<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/12\/FicheOFB_Sioule_compressed.pdf\">&gt;&gt; factsheet, in french only<\/a> (derni\u00e8re mise \u00e0 jour, mars 2023)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/Banderole-1.jpg\" width=\"229\" height=\"129\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>A micro power plant at Chanteuges (Desges, Allier gorges)<\/strong><br \/>\n&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org\/downloads\/giving_a_dam_how_hydropower_is_destroying_europes_rivers_desges.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">factsheet in english<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2023\/06\/20230622_FicheOFB_Desges-1_compressed-1.pdf\">factsheet in french <\/a>(derni\u00e8re mise \u00e0 jour, mars 2023)<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/fr\/chanteuges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&gt;&gt; and dedicated webpage<\/a> (french only)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ern-sosloirevivante.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/alagnon.png\" width=\"225\" height=\"161\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The multiplication of power plants on the Alagnon basin, a salmon river<\/strong><br \/>\n&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org\/downloads\/giving_a_dam_how_hydropower_is_destroying_europes_rivers_alagnon.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">factsheet in english<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/12\/FicheOFB_Alagnon_BV_compressed.pdf\">factsheet in french<\/a>\u00a0( derni\u00e8re mise \u00e0 jour, novembre 2021)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rivernet.org\/loire\/loireamont\/microcentrales_clip_image002_0000.jpg\" width=\"214\" height=\"139\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The example of the Petit Tabuc, one of the threatened alpine rivers<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2021\/09\/Fichemicrohydro_WWFERN_2021_PetitTabuc.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&gt;&gt; factsheet in english<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-6dmkin-951e378cda340e787f7b3e63a27ed661\">\n.flex_column.av-6dmkin-951e378cda340e787f7b3e63a27ed661{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-6dmkin-951e378cda340e787f7b3e63a27ed661 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-20  el_after_av_one_third  el_before_av_one_third  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mbuvuyoz-05fc7e3c6f9330c24068ee7cdea62898 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>Location of case studies tracked by ERN<\/h3>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-2kyilr-b8cfa11b6e85eceac824465e04bbbb33\">\n.flex_column.av-2kyilr-b8cfa11b6e85eceac824465e04bbbb33{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-2kyilr-b8cfa11b6e85eceac824465e04bbbb33 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-23  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-24  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mbuu0bv2-2354dc22be952e62e3ddfb853cc05637\">\n#top #wrap_all .avia-button.av-mbuu0bv2-2354dc22be952e62e3ddfb853cc05637:hover{\ncolor:white;\n-webkit-transition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n-moz-transition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n-ms-transition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n-o-transition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\ntransition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n}\n<\/style>\n<a href='https:\/\/www.rivernet.org\/loire\/loireamont\/microcentrales.htm' class='avia-color-theme-color avia-font-color-theme-color avia-button avia-button-fullwidth av-mbuu0bv2-2354dc22be952e62e3ddfb853cc05637 avia-icon_select-no avia-color-theme-color' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Other ongoing or abandoned projects (on rivernet)<\/span><span class='avia_button_background avia-button avia-button-fullwidth avia-color-theme-color-highlight'><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-5087","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5087"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5087\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ern.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}