Energy Community publishes policy guidelines on small hydropower plants

The Energy Community Secretariat has published its final policy guidelines on small hydropower plants in the contracting parties.

The document is intended for use by project developers, competent national authorities and the general public.

It is guidance on the requirements to be met by SHPPs in relation to the Energy Community acquis

It offers guidance on the requirements to be met by small hydropower projects (SHPPs) in relation to the Energy Community acquis in order to avoid or at least minimize their negative impacts on the environment, the secretariat said on its website.

The policy guidelines also aim to respond to the growing public opposition to such facilities

The policy guidelines also aim to respond to the growing public opposition to such facilities and complaints to the Energy Community Secretariat.

The largest share of the responses was received from NGOs and from Serbia, the EU, BiH

According to the secretariat, the main focus of the document is on ensuring compliance with environmental assessment processes. Other relevant issues such as the effect of support schemes and state aid implications are also assessed.

The document reflects the feedback received in the public consultation on the draft policy guidelines, which ran from May 15 to June 15 of this year

The largest share of the responses was received from nongovernmental organizations and from Serbia, the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina.