When entering the country, even non-professionals notice that Slovenia is at least partly mountainous and at the same time rich in water. Both factors have a considerable impact on the small hydropower scene. Two comparative figures describe the importance of small hydropower in a country very clearly: the output per inhabitant (in W/I) and the output per square kilometre of land coverage (in kW/km2) The table below left shows these data for the EU-15. Assuming a population of 1.965 million and a size of 20,273 km2, the figures for Slovenia are: 56 W/I and 5.42 kW/km2. Both values show that the small republic ranks among those countries at the top of the European chart. The following information largely base on an ESHA study on the situation of small hydropower in the new EU countries.
In Slovenia, about 480 small hydropower plants (< 10 MW) are presently in operation with a total output of 110 MW, or rather a power production of 260 GWh per year. Enjoyable in particular is the fact that values have been constantly rising over the past 15 years, which indicates, as the chart above left shows, a positive trend for the future.
About 90 percent of facilities have been built in the past 20 years, which is rather unusual compared to other countries. About 50 percent of plants are privately owned. Characteristic is also the fact that only 10 percent of the small hydropower plants belong to the low-pressure segment; thirty percent are attractive high-pressure plants. Sixty percent of all plants have heads between five and fifteen meters.
With a share of two percent in the national “electricity mix”, Slovenia’s small hydropower ranks top in the European comparison. With 91.5 percent, (the entire) hydropower dominates the sector of renewable energies in Slovenia; the share of small hydropower alone is 7.5 percent.
Only about 40 percent of the small hydropower potential is exploited in Austria’s southern neighbour; about 180 W could be developed. However, conflicts with nature conservation are threatening in this connection in Slovenia, too. All waters have already been categorised under the Water Framework Directive. Categories 1 and 2 are waters with a “very good” ecological status, where hydropower use is strictly forbidden. Environmental compatibility analyses are compulsory for river power plants from an output of 500 kW upwards.
No official regulation exists in Slovenia either as to “minimum discharge amounts”. A reference often applied is the “medium low water”. If this is applied, production will decrease by 5 to 10 percent. Slovenia shares this fate with many other European countries.
The three turbine producers Andino Hydropower Engineering d. o. o., Litostroj E. I., and Turboinstitut d. o. o., which are internationally active, prove that Slovenia has a tradition in the use of hydropower.
Questioning Slovenian small hydropower operators about profitability, they speak of “absolutely respectable proceeds”, which in detail base on two factors: the so-called long-term electricity price corresponding approximately to the price on the free market, and the premiums, which are available to small hydropower operators being rated as qualified producer, which is easily obtained. The value of the premium correlates with the age of the plant. In sum, this results in tariffs within the European average, of which Austrian operators can only dream!
Economically relevant, however, are also the approval procedures. In Slovenia, you need to have eleven (!) from different authorities, which will take about two years at best. A specialty is also the “water use fee” amounting to three percent of the feeding tariff. After all that red tape, you are rewarded with a licence for thirty years.
Fortunately, there exists a highly active representation of small hydropower interests in Slovenia – founded in 1988 – which speaks up also within the European Small Hydropower Association/ESHA. Already today, the national association acts as umbrella organisation of five regional organisations and has nearly 350 members.
Although things have been going well for small hydropower in Slovenia, there are a couple of problems to be solved. Procedures should be simplified and the competency of ministries should be transferred to regional authorities. Furthermore, there is still no law on renewable energies based on the corresponding European Framework Directive. In sum, Slovenia is with regard to small hydropower one of the most interesting countries in Europe!
(Source: aqua press Int. 4/2005, a. o. Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Bernhard Pelikan)
