Public Acceptance of Hydropower

Publication: Book Section
Citation: Venus, Terese E.; Mandy Hinzmann and Holger Gerdes 2022: Public Acceptance of Hydropower. In: Rutschmann, Peter et al. (eds) 2022: Novel Developments for Sustainable Hydropower. Springer International Publishing.

This chapter provides an overview of public perception of hydropower projects, describes methods for studying public acceptance and presents an application of the Q-methodology in four Europe case studies from hydropower-intensive regions. The chapter, written by Mandy Hinzmann, Holger Gerdes (both Ecologic Institute) and Terese E. Venus is available for download.

Public acceptance can play an important role in determining the trajectory of hydropower development and modernization as well as the adoption of mitigation measures. Particularly in the planning stages of hydropower projects and modernization, local public resistance may delay progress and completion. For this reason, it is important to understand how to study local public perceptions of hydropower to improve project implementation and reduce public resistance.

Policy Framework for Hydropower Mitigation

Year 2022

Publication:Book

This open access book presents (selected) new and innovative developments for sustainable and fish-friendly hydropower. It offers unique insights into the challenges, practices and policies of hydropower developments across 8 European countries, providing examples from on-site studies and European-wide analyses. The case studies throughout the book are practical "real-world" examples, which are intended to serve as inspiration for anyone who would like to know more about how solutions for more sustainable hydropower production can be designed and implemented. The book was co-edited by Ecologic Institute's Dr. Eleftheria Kampa. Authors of the Ecologic Institute contributed to the chapters on "Policy Framework for Hydropower Mitigation" and "Public Acceptance of Hydropower."

Novel Developments for Sustainable Hydropower

Year 2022

Event:Conference

The final online conference of the FIThydro project brought together over 280 participants from across the globe to explore the latest research developments on the topic of sustainable and fish friendly hydropower showcasing the final project’s results in addition to presentations by experts from outside the project on related topics. The online conference was hosted by Ecologic Institute and the Technical University of Munich.

International Conference on Fishfriendly Hydropower

17 - 18 March 2021
online

Publication:Policy Brief

This FIThydro Brief, written by Ecologic Institute's Hugh McDonald and Gerardo Anzaldúa, assesses the current and future demand for fish-friendly hydropower in Europe. It concludes that EU and national policy and economic developments offer a chance to innovate and address rising social and environmental concerns about hydropower's negative impacts.

Scoping the Market for Fish-friendly Hydropower Technologies: Recent developments, future expectations

FIThydro Market Conditions Brief

Year 2020

News

In the Europe-wide FIThydro project, Ecologic Institute worked with research and industry partners to study existing hydroelectric power plants. Together the project partners developed new assessment methods and technologies such as a fish population hazard index, simulations for fish migration and an open-access decision support tool for hydropower planning. The goal: making hydropower more fish-friendly and environmentally sustainable. All project results are made available online.

Towards More Fish-friendly Hydropower Production

EU project "FIThydro" studies environmental impacts of hydroelectric power plants

6 November 2020

Publication:Policy Brief

The FIThydro Policy Brief presents summaries of selected key outputs from the H2020 FIThydro project, which are relevant for policy makers, managers and operators involved in the commissioning and operation of hydropower plants.

Fish-friendly Innovative Technologies for Hydropower

Key outputs from the FIThydro project

Year 2020

Publication:Article

In the European Union, hydropower represents an important component of a renewable energy transition, in part due to its existing infrastructure. A large share of future European hydropower projects will be run-of-the-river schemes. To understand the potential for RoR hydropower development and modernization of the technology as an opportunity for sustainable decentralization, this report uses the Q-methodology to compare public values about RoR hydropower in German, Portuguese and Swedish case studies.

The Public's Perception of Run-of-the-river Hydropower across Europe

Year 2020

Event:Workshop

The European Stakeholder Workshop on Fish-friendly Hydropower will be held on 28 and 29 January 2020 in Brussels (Belgium). This event will serve as a platform for consultation and exchange between FIThydro scientists, policy-makers and technical experts working on the assessment of impacts from hydropower plants and the planning of mitigation measures.

FIThydro – European Stakeholder Workshop

28 - 29 January 2020
Brussels, Belgium

Publication:Article

Hydropower now accounts for 18% of electricity generated across Europe and 70% of renewable energy. Most of Europe's hydropower plants have been in operation for several decades. They are therefore about to be renovated, modernized and expanded. Only recently has the emphasis been placed on the protection of fish. European countries must adhere to the Water Framework Directive, which calls for environmentally friendly, socially acceptable and economically viable hydropower. The FIThydro project deals with this topic and wrote an article. Eleftheria Kampa from Ecologic Institute contributed to this article. It is available for download.

Le projet FIThydro: Une initiative européenne pour une hydroélectricité durable et respectueuse des poissons

Year 2018

Language: English
Authorship: Mandy Hinzmann

Holger Gerdes

Terese E. Venus
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International
Published in: Novel Developments for Sustainable Hydropower
Published by: Springer-Verlag, Germany
Year: 2022
Dimension: 12 pp.
ISBN: 978-3-030-99138-8 (electronic)

978-3-030-99137-1 (print)
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-99138-8_3
Project: Fish Friendly Innovative Technologies for Hydropower (FIThydro)
Project ID: 2806
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Factors for Public Acceptance of Hydropower
3.3 Methods of Measuring Public Acceptance
3.3.1 Comparing Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
3.3.2 Using the Q-Methodology to Study Public Acceptance of Hydropower
3.4 Example Q Studies of Hydropower Across Europe
3.4.1 Case Studies
3.4.2 Results and Discussion
3.5 Conclusion
Keywords: Biodiversity

Water

Further Links

PublicationBookNovel Developments for Sustainable Hydropower

Rutschmann, Peter et. al. (eds) 2022: Novel Developments for Sustainable Hydropower. Springer International Publishing.

PublicationBook SectionPolicy Framework for Hydropower Mitigation

Kampa, Eleftheria 2022: Policy Framework for Hydropower Mitigation. In: Rutschmann, Peter et. al. (eds) 2022: Novel Developments for Sustainable Hydropower. Springer International Publishing.

ProjectThird Cycle of the German Participatory Forum on Fish Protection and Downstream Migration

Ecologic Institut

With the aim of achieving "good ecological status" in all water bodies by 2015, the Water Framework Directive requires Member States to put more emphasis on hydromorphological issues and watercourse connectivity for the conservation and restoration of fish populations.... Read more

Third Cycle of the German Participatory Forum on Fish Protection and Downstream Migration

Duration: Jun 2019 - Jan 2023
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany

PublicationFact SheetFish Protection Targets in Europe

Cover of the fact sheet "Fish Protection Targets in Europe"

This Fact Sheet provides an overview of the European legal basis for fish protection at hydraulic engineering structures. The fact sheet "Fish protection targets in Europe" is available for download. The key messages of Fact Sheet No. 01 are: Legal regulations... Read more

Keuneke, Rita; Edith Massmann and Stephan Naumann 2020: Fish Protection Targets in Europe. Overview of the European legal basis for fish protection at hydraulic construction sites. Ingenieurbüro Floecksmühle GmbH, German Environment Agency: Aachen, Dessau-Roßlau.

PublicationFact SheetEvaluation of Primary Injury to Fish at Hydropower Sites

Cover of the fact sheet "Evaluation of primary injury to fish at hydropower sites"

This Fact Sheet provides methodological recommendations for quantifying the risk of harm and mortality to fish during passage from hydropower sites. The fact sheet "Evaluation of primary injury to fish at hydropower sites" is available for download. The key messages... Read more

Wagner, Falko and Peter Warth 2020: Evaluation of primary injury to fish at hydropower sites. Methodological recommendations for quantifying the risk of injury and mortality to fish during the passage of hydropower sites. Jena: Institute of Aquatic Ecology and Fish Biology (IGF Jena).

PublicationFact SheetTechnical Functionality of Large Fish Protection Screens Confirmed in Practice

Cover of the Fact Sheet "Technical functionality of large fish protection screens confirmed in practice"

In 2014, the German Participatory Forum on Fish Protection and Downstream Migration was able to develop a common understanding of the size of a screen up to which functioning mechanical fish protection and descent systems, including the necessary cleaning technology,... Read more

Keuneke, Rita 2021: Technical functionality of large fish protection screens confirmed in practice. Operational experience with large screen systems. Ingenieurbüro Floecksmühle GmbH: Aachen.

PublicationFact SheetZiele für den Fischschutz und Fischabstieg in Deutschland

This fact sheet provides an overview of fish protection instruments in Germany. The fact sheet "Ziele für den Fischschutz und Fischabstieg in Deutschland (Targets for Fish Protection in Germany)" is available for download. The key messages of fact sheet No. 02 are: ... Read more

Keuneke, Rita and Edith Massmann 2020: Ziele für den Fischschutz und Fischabstieg in Deutschland. Überblick über Instrumente des Fischschutzes in Deutschland. Ingenieurbüro Floecksmühle GmbH: Aachen.

PublicationWebsiteAtlas Fischschutz & Fischabstieg

A newly created atlas for fish protection and downstream fish migration ("Atlas Fischschutz & Fischabstieg"), designed and implemented by Ecologic Institute, is online since June 2016. The map indicates all the locations of measures for fish protection and... Read more

Ecologic Institut 2016: Atlas Fischschutz & Fischabstieg. URL: http://forum-fischschutz.de/atlas-standorte.