Expansion of small hydroelectric power plants is slow

If Austria wants to achieve its self-imposed goals in the energy transition, politicians should create better framework conditions for the expansion of small hydropower, demands the Small Hydropower Austria Association.

The number of small hydroelectric power plants is increasing more slowly than Austria’s climate goals envisage. In 2023 only 20 small hydroelectric power plants were built, in 2022 there were 35.

In total there are 4,000 that feed in six terawatt hours of green electricity. What is needed is a push from politicians, the interest group demands, specifically faster approvals, the enactment of the market premium regulation and higher demands. The target for 2030 has only been achieved by five percent.

Doubling would be necessary

The Renewable Energy Expansion Act (EAG) stipulates that Austria’s electricity needs should be covered entirely from renewable sources by 2030. In order to achieve the goal, an additional five terawatt hours should be produced from hydropower each year. This means that either five large Danube power plants would be needed by 2030 – which is completely unrealistic – or a doubling of the number of small hydroelectric power plants.