Consulting and support of the feasibility study for the identification and planning of small hydropower plants in the water infrastructure of Gorski Kotar (Croatia)
Location
Gorski Kotar / Croatia
project period
03/2024 to 12/2025
client
Swiss Small Hydro (SSH) Association, on behalf of Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
Services provided
Consultancy
Partner organisation
Switzerland is supporting programs in selected EU member states until 2029. One of these 13 EU member states is Croatia, where Switzerland is co-financing a CHF 23 million program to renovate and expand the wastewater and water supply system in the Gorski Kotar Mountain region. To achieve a more resource and energy efficient operation of the water infrastructure, small hydropower plants are to be integrated.
As a subcontractor of the Swiss Small Hydro Association, SKAT is involved in the feasibility study for the identification of suitable locations and the planning of small hydropower plants in Gorski Kotar. In addition, practice-oriented training courses are offered for Croatian water and wastewater experts.
Objective: Through awareness creation and technology transfer, Croatian stakeholders in the water and wastewater sector shall get the relevant know-how on how to rehabilitate and construct water infrastructure in a more resource and energy efficient way. The use of available hydropower potential in existing (or new) water infrastructure is one of the possible options to achieve more sustainability.
Services provided by Skat:
- online training on basics of hydropower use in water infrastructure (technical, economic, environmental and legal aspects etc.),
- support to assess the available potential of mini and small hydropower in water supply and wastewater systems, required investments and economic profitability; prioritization of possible sites (cost-benefit-analyses)
- optional elaboration of feasibility studies, support for tendering and implementation;
- further on-the-job training on technical, legal and economical aspects of mini and small hydropower technology for the technicians of the water supply utility, involvement of electricity supply utility and regulator.
Results: Relevant Croatian stakeholders have an improved understanding on the possible use of hydropower potential in water infrastructure and the tendering process and implementation of a feasibility study paves the way for a first implementation.