Determination of a hydropower "go-to area" : Klarälven and Dalälven potential assessment and environmental regulation constraints

Sammanfattning: The current energy crisis with sky-rocketed prices has created the need for new sustainable solutions in the energy production sector. The REPowerEU Plan, presented by the European Commission, has taken up on this and has established measures to accelerate the introduction of new renewable energy capacity in Europe, such as the designation of “go-to areas” by Member States to shorten authorization permits in areas with high potential and low environmental impacts. This thesis develops a method for the identification of possible hydropower “go-to areas” in Sweden. A study of the rivers Klarälven and Västerdalälven was carried out to find locations with unexploited power potential, followed by a suitability mapping analysis to assess their future development from other technical, geological and economic criteria. Afterwards, the most interesting areas in terms of power and suitability were subjected to a description of the environmental legislation that constraints them to be actually exploited. The methodology is based on a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approach, through the use of ArcMap, and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). Specifically, the AHP technique was utilized, carrying out interviews with five experts to adapt the study to the Swedish context. Also, European and national regulations were considered, including the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Nature Directives, as well as the Swedish Environmental Code.  Two sites were found to be worthy of "go-to area" consideration, with an average combined power potential of over 125 MW and a medium to very high suitability index for hydropower implementation. However, their water condition was found to be below the minimum required by the WFD, and they were also found to be considered or located in the close surroundings to Nature 2000 areas. Moreover, they all protected locations against hydropower implementation by the national environmental legislation.  Therefore, it is pointed out in this thesis that their conversation conditions and protection status forbids them to be used for any activity that would compromise them. It is concluded that a balance is required to be implemented between nature protection and the need for new sustainable energy sources.