Solutions for small hydro plant development in a protected area

The process from conceptual design to the beginning of small hydro plant operation requires organization, planning and the management of resources, to achieve aims that balance public and private interests. Balancing interests includes balancing spatial, social, environmental, economic and policy-related challenges. It was decided to build several small hydro plants along the Drava river in Slovenia; however, the chosen location was in an area of Slovenia that is protected by special environmental laws. The Drava river has been considerably regulated with several dams and hydro plants constructed to generate electricity, as well as several canals dredged to direct its flow. Nevertheless, natural habitats along the middle and lower reaches host unique flora and fauna, and several endemic species. The potential solutions to exploit energy in the Drava riverbed as well as their economic and environmental impacts are presented in this paper.