RESTOR Hydro: Unleashing micro hydropower potential in Europe

As a backbone for renewable energy production in Europe, hydropower has a key role in meeting both the 2020 renewable energy targets as well as the greenhouse gas reduction targets. While large hydro generates 550 TWh /year from about 180 GW of installed capacity, more than 21 000 small hydropower installations generate in excess of 46 TWh of electricity annually in the EU-27. Small hydro alone is enough to supply electricity for more than 12 million households and contributes to annual avoidance of CO2 by 29 million tonnes, which translates into an annual avoided CO2 cost of about € 766 million. The considerable, but untapped, small hydro potential can make a significant contribution to future energy needs in Europe, and to contribute to the EU’s goal of making the transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The RESTOR Hydro project described in this article aims to highlight suitable historic sites for refurbishment or redevelopment into small hydro plants.