SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS AS A PART OF ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY AND ENERGY MARKET OF UKRAINE

Abstract

Globalization and sustainable development necessitate joint analysis of technological and environmental trends in energy development taking into account current economic and legal provisions. Based on synthesis of the current state of Ukrainian electric power system in general and hydropower in particular, there have been underscored the importance of comprehensive approach in identifying the key tasks of building the pathway of further electric power industry development. The authors provide the characteristics of today’s organizational and technological structure of the electric power system, including the legal provisions regulating its activity. As currently there are significant legislative changes, particular attention was paid to the review of electricity market. Features of the new liberalized electricity market have been determined in comparison with the current market, and also in connection with renewable energy characteristics. Thus, amendments introduced by the new Law “On electricity market” to the green tariff policy have been detailed with the regard to incentive mechanism for development of renewable energy and liability of electricity producers operating under Green Tariff for imbalances. The article focuses on the analysis of the state and growth potential of small hydropower. Еconomic incentives are systematized according to the current legislation. Also, here is presented the potential for possible growth of small hydropower, namely, quantitative result of the exploration of the technical potential of hydropower resources of small rivers. There have been identified a number of barriers and impediments to the construction of small HPPs. Environmental restrictions to the construction of small hydropower stations have been formulated according to the accurate analysis of various branches of national legislation such as the Land Code, the Water Code, the Law “On the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine”, etc., as well as valid ratified documents and other key soft-low instruments at the international level. Additionally, provisions of Сustoms and Tax legislation on small hydropower regarding to incentives for technology development have been defined. Consideration of small hydropower projects successfully implemented on the territory of the country confirms the possibility of the future development of small hydropower.