1. DG Environment, Nature Protection Unit (D3)
Natura 2000 and Hydropower guidance document - State of Play - SCG meeting – 18 May 2017
Christina Pantazi
European Commission
DG Environment, Nature Protection Unit (D3)

2. Hydropower and Natura 2000 " Hydropower
one of several important sources of RE
key role in EU Renewable Energy and Climate Change targets for 2020 and beyond
stable, flexible, efficient form of electricity
"physical" potential to develop hydropower (esp. Balkans)
Europe's Rivers
Major source of biodiversity
Part of our rich heritage
Undergone major changes over the decades
Reduced resilience and capacity to sustain wildlife
Many in degraded state and need for restoration
"

3. Biodiversity and Nature Protection Policy Framework
EU Biodiversity Strategy
Nature Directives
1992: The Habitats Directive

4. Natura 2000 Network in EU
Largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world - most important biodiversity areas
18% of the land area of the EU
6% of the sea area of the EU
sites terrestrial and marine
Not designed to be ‘no go zones’
New developments are possible as long as EU environment legislation provisions are respected

5. Potential Biodiversity risks from Hydropower
Challenge in establishing sustainable development of Hydropower and ensuring environmental quality objectives under EU legislation
Changes in water-body conditions, hydrological regimes, reduction of habitat connectivity and water abstraction
Habitat Changes: physical habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation and disruption of ecological processes
Species Impacts: Displacment and barrier effects to movements and migration; injuries and mortality (e.g.: fish species)

6. EC guidance document on Hydropower development and Natura 2000
Requirements for hydropower in relation to Natura 2000 sites - general principles
Links with other legislative framework
Focus on:
Article 6 of the Habitats Directive (Appropriate Assessment) - step by step guidance for permitting procedure
Existing hydropower - opportunities with existing plants
Potential interactions between different types of hydropower plants and the river ecosystems
Strategic and integrated approach - benefits when planning new hydropower developments
Mitigation measures
Demonstrate good practices
Targeted to hydropower developers, authorities, practitioners, site managers, NGO's and other stakeholders concerned

7. Some examples of the contents
New hydropower:
The benefits of early and strategic planning/integrated approach – sensitivity mapping and appropriate site selection
Ensuring good quality appropriate assessments (art. 6 –Habitats Directive), expertise & engagement of stakeholders
Existing hydropower: modernise/upgrade? Win-win situation where both energy production and environmental protection are enhanced
Mitigation measures: project design & operation –new biodiversity - friendly technologies (eg fish-friendly turbines).
Small hydropower: analyse cumulative impacts - small project sometimes not submitted to SEA, EIA, AA

8. Focus on the river ecosystems and the potential interactions with different types of hydropower plants
Cumulative impacts !
For hydropower this means:
Changes in river morphology and riverine habitats
Barriers to migration and dispersal of protected species
Disruption of sediment dynamics
Changes of the flow regime by diversion hydropower plants
Changes of the flow regime by peaking hydropower plants
Water chemical and temperature changes
Injuries and killing of individual animals
Displacement and disturbance
State of Nature report, EEA 2015
Run-of-river hydropower plants
Storage run of the river hydropower schemes
Pumped-storage hydropower plants.
Reservoir hydropower plants

9. Focus on mitigation measures
A wide range of mitigation/ecological restoration measures can be introduced for both existing and new hydropower plants:
The restoration of river continuity and fish migration by building fish passes, or by removing old or obsolete structures;
The reduction in fish mortality through the installation of screens at inlets and fish friendly turbines;
The restoration of an ecological minimum flow and the sediment dynamics;
The reduction of water level/flow fluctuations (hydropeaking) through changes in the released flow at different time scales;
The restoration /recreation of valuable natural riverine habitats, morphological structures and habitats for rare and endangered species to help compensate for the habitats damaged or lost as a result of the hydropower plant or to make a net positive contribution to improving the ecological condition of an already degraded river in line with the objectives of the WFD and that Nature Directives.

10. Focus on strategic and integrated approach to planning further hydropower development
A strategic planning approach:
is a key opportunity to facilitate the integration of water, nature and energy policy objectives as well as the objectives of other key policy areas;
It allows linking strategic planning for the aquatic environment and nature conservation with the national energy planning on renewable electricity;
It allows for the involvement of all interested parties which can reduce potential conflicts afterwards together with securing the projects;
Using the planning process helps setting priorities (e.g. with respect to balancing energy, nature and water management priorities);

11. State of play
January st consultation on draft guidance document
Substantial amount of comments and reactions
July Dedicated workshop – DG ENV
January 2017 – end of 2nd consultation
Currently under finalisation
Adoption by end of 2017