Revision of hydropower licenses - prioritisation of rivers for environmental improvement Nordic WFD Conference Reykjavik 27. September 2012 Jan Sørensen, Senior Engineer (NVE)
Revision of licenses 420 old HP licenses that can be revised before 2022 Main purpose of revision is to modernise the license conditions for improving the environmental status in the regulated rivers/hmwb Release of minimum water flow and restrictions on reservoir operation are common requirements Application of such measures in all rivers will result in annual production loss of 5-12 TWh! Not compatible with Norway s obligations under the RES Directive (share of energy from renewable sources 67,5 % before 2020) 2
National review MPE /MOE have initiated a national project to review and prioritise the regulated rivers/watercourses NVE /DN will carry out the technical review A list of prioritised rivers where release of minimum water flow and/or restrictions on reservoir operation are considered to be relevant measures Balance the benefit of environmental improvement vs. the cost of electricity production loss National policy guidelines, which together with the RBMPs will provide important input to the revision of individual licenses 3
Project tasks 1. Identify rivers/watercourses with high priority values and interests in consultation with the RBDs ++ 2. Assess the impacts of the regulation 3. Assess the effectiveness of minimum water flow and/or change of reservoir operation 4. Calculate the costs - loss of production based on standard values, e.g. minimum water flow = Q95 5. Consider the potential for compensating the production loss, e.g. through upgrading/expansion of existing HP 6. Other criteria: Supply security, flood control etc. 7. Make comprehensive assessment 4
Priority values/interests Anadrome rivers, in particular national salmon rivers Important rivers for fishing Rivers with selected biotopes and prioritised species as defined in the Nature Management Act Rivers important for recreation and tourism, and with significant landscape (aesthetic) values 5
Unlicensed HP In some of the rivers there are old HP plants without a license Unlicensed plants that pose an obstruction to environmental improvement will be identified Provisions in the Water Resources Act ( 66) that give NVE the authority to call upon the HP company to apply for a license Non-revisable HP possible to change exiting license conditions ( 28) in special cases 6
Workplan time schedule Fremdriftsplan Oppgave 1 1a 2 2a 2b 2c 3 3a 3b 4 4a 4b 4c 5 5a 5b 5c 6 6a 6b 6c 7 7a 7b 8 8a 8b 8c 9 9a 9b 9c 9d Prosjektoppstart Gjennomgang av mandat, prosjektgruppe Innhente informasjon - innspill Brev til VRM om innspill Brev/epost til NVE Reg. og FM om innspill Revisjonstabell-opprette på NVEs nettside Arbeidsplan Utkast til arbeidsplan Ferdigstilt arbeidsplan Praktisk gjennomføring og metodebruk Avklare ambisjons- og presisjonsnivå Bestemme metodebruk, presisere kriterier m.v. Oversikt over aktuelle informasjonskilder Klassifisering i hht. prioriterte miljøtemaer Gjennomgang av innkomne innspill m.v. Klassifisering av vassdrag i hht. prior. miljøtemaer Vurdere konsesjonens/reg. virkning på miljøtemaer Konsekvenser av vannslipp og magasinrestriksjoner Vurdere fremtidig tilsigsmønster Beregne krafttap ved minstevannføring Beregne virkninger av magasinrestriksjoner m.v. Vurdere potensial for O/U-prosjekter Vurdere mhp. O/U og økt produksjon Fastsette realistisk O/U potensiale Samlet avveining - kategoriering og prioritering Kategorisering og prioritering av revisjonssaker Kategorisering ift. krafttap og reguleringsevne Avveiing av miljøgevist vs. krafttap m.v. Resultatrapportering til OED/MD Utarbeide rapportmal Utarbeide utkast til sluttrapport Gjennomgang og kvalitetssikring av utkast m.v. Ferdigstilling av sluttrapport, oversendelse jun.12 jul.12 aug.12 sep.12 okt.12 nov.12 des.12 jan.13 feb.13 mar.13 apr.13 mai.13 Telefon-/videomøte Møte/workshop Kort notat fra hovedoppgave (underlag for sluttrapport) Rapportutkast Endelig rapportering Tidsrom med fokusert aktivitet på oppgaven 7
8 Thank you! 24. okt. 2012
GEP - regulated rivers GEP the resulting ecological effects of all applicable measures A measure is applicable if; necessary legal instruments are available, e.g. existing HP license conditions (terms) etc. no significant adverse effect on total electricity production and peaking capacity, and no significant adverse effect on the wider environment, e.g. leading to replacement of hydropower with energy from non-renewable sources 9