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.
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):