Small Hydro Energy Efficient promotion Campaign Action

The overall objective is to develop a Promotion Campaign on Small Hydropower addressing the challenges and coping with the main barriers in Europe. In order to enhance the further market penetration of Small HYdropower (SHP) within the EU-25 an evaluation of the current situation as well as a set of high-level promotion measures is necessary. Indeed, the wrong impression that small hydroplants generally affect adversely natural local environment exists, this impression, together with numerous administrative barriers, and contradictions in the implementation of two European Directives (Water Framework Directive and Renewables Electricity Directive) may result on a reduction on renewable electricity production from SHP plants. Therefore, the proposed action aims at developing a well-targeted SHP promotion campaign adressing the challenges and promoting its benefits, through a mixture of information measures (brochures,conference, workshops), through a review on the status of SHP development and policy frameworks in EU-25, through addressing public image issues and environmental performance of SHP plants, as well as through a comprehensive territorial planning approach.