Seven steps to boost hydro in France identified in white paper

24 July 2017


Seven steps that could boost the hydropower sector in France have been identified in a white paper commissioned by three French energy associations, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) has reported.

The paper – Hydropower at the crossroads: giving new momentum to the number one renewable energy – was published in late June by the Union Francaise de l’Électricité (French Electricity Union), Syndicat des Énergies Renouvelables (Renewable Energy Syndicate) and France Hydro Electricité.

The steps identified are:

Coordinating national and European policies for better alignment, including: (1) ensuring coherence of policies; (2) assessing the real impact of proposed policies; and (3) improving dialogue and consultation.

Ensuring economic decisions and tax frameworks incentivise the maintenance and development of hydropower, including: (4) relieving the local tax burden on hydropower development; and (5) establishing a stable and incentivising economic framework.

Recognising the true value of services delivered to the electricity system, by: (6) establishing an economic model to support pumped storage systems; and (7) recognising the services hydropower delivers to the electricity system in terms of supply-demand balance and security.

These steps, says the organizations, should ‘maintain, sustain and develop’ France’s number one renewable electricity source, with a view to boosting the energy transition at home and abroad. The paper calls on the French government to take steps to grow hydropower’s share in the energy mix, with a view to achieving the commitments of the Paris Agreement and the 2015 French energy transition law for green growth.

 

The white paper can be read in full here (in French): 



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