Principles for Locating Small Hydropower Plants in Accordance with Sustainability: A Case Study from Slovakia

The present study examines the possibilities for developing the use of small hydropower plants (SHP) in Slovakia, focusing on the principles of sustainability and compliance with European and national legislation. At present, there is a tendency for the construction of hydroelectric power plants to intervene in the river environment, with the potential to exert a substantial impact on the flow of the river and disrupt the surrounding ecosystem. A potential strategy for minimizing environmental impact would be the construction of SHPs, which require less construction work. The Hornád river sub-basin, located in eastern Slovakia, was selected as the study area. The spatial and hydrological data were processed using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The hydrological characteristics of the area were determined through the utilization of a digital terrain model (DMR 5.0). The results of the hydrological analyses were then combined with environmental constraints to identify suitable locations for small hydropower plants. The theoretical and technical potential and gradient were calculated for individual sections of watercourses. It is estimated that approximately 61% of watercourse sections have a gradient greater than or equal to 10 m, which represents suitable conditions for the development of small hydropower plants. The presence of a stable flow regime engenders optimal conditions for the utilization of hydropower in the designated location. The study emphasizes the importance of environmental protection of the area, the resolution of property rights issues, and the streamlining of permitting processes. The results of the study contribute to energy planning at the regional level and confirm the effectiveness of using GIS in determining locations for small hydropower plants. Concurrently, emphasis is placed on the necessity to incorporate environmental and legislative imperatives within the overarching strategy for water energy development.