Energy for the future

Abstract

The Hidroenergia 1999 conference held in Vienna in August 1999 considered the European Union White paper on renewable energy and how its objectives of achieving an additional installed capacity of 4500MW of small hydropower by 2010 would be met. The conference addressed growing environmental concerns, and techniques, strategies and methodologies for further development. New technologies were also presented. Local opposition to developments and means of addressing this were considered. The need for a more dynamic approach to publicity of developments in the industry was stressed. Examples of environmentally-friendly hydro power plants and fishpass structures were also presented. Other papers presented at the conference addressed the application of the EU's EMAS eco-management and audit scheme applied to small hydro developments.