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The table below indicates how European States intend to achieve the objectives set for the contribution of hydropower to the 2020 renewable energy targets via construction of new hydropower plants, refurbishment or modernization and maintenance. The table is based on qualitative statements of countries on the level of importance of the contribution of each option to the targets.

The following trends can be detected for specific countries:

• In Austria, Slovenia and the UK, mainly the construction of new plants will contribute to the 2020 renewable energy targets. In the UK, new hydropower development is expected to be dominated (in terms of numbers of schemes) by small (< 1.5 MW) run-of-river schemes. In Austria, modernisation will play a considerable role for small hydropower while in the UK, refurbishment and modernisation are considered negligible contributions.
• On the other hand, in Germany, Spain and Italy, the construction of new hydropower plants is considered a minor contribution, whereas the refurbishment, modernization and maintenance of plants will be the main source of contribution to renewable energy targets. In Latvia, the situation is similar. In Spain, any new constructions will focus on increasing pumping storage capacity.
• France considers all options to be a main source of contribution for achieving the 2020 renewable energy targets. The refurbishment and modernisation targets are to balance the loss of production due to minimum flow rising in 2014 for all existing plants. On the contrary, Luxembourg considers all options to be minor contributions to the 2020 renewable energy targets.
• For Finland, The Netherlands and Romania, the construction of new plants and modernisation and maintenance will be the main contributors to the 2020 renewable energy targets from hydropower.
• For Norway and Portugal, the main source of contribution to the 2020 renewable energy targets from hydropower will come from the construction of new plants and refurbishment.
• Sweden mainly plans to refurbish hydropower plants in order to contribute to the 2020 renewable energy targets.

Source: DG ENV/Ecologic (Kampa et al.) September 2011: Issue Paper Draft 2