Ad Provision of water services

1. Ad Provision of water services Water services of fundamental value • tobekept in publicownershipor in publiccontrol in AT • Substantial financialincentivesprovided • High quality, reliabilty+ affordability of services in AT

2. Ad FloodRisk Management Higher discharges 2013 – but lessdamagethan 2002 Recentefforts of floodriskmanagementsuccessful

3. Reconcile HP generation + ecology(1) Austria – high share of electricityfrom HP generation Abundant knowhow (design, equipment…) in place Frontrunnertoreconcile HP generation + ecology

4. ReconcileHP generation + ecology(2) Challenge: fishmigration + environmental flows

5. Reconcile HP generation + ecology(3) • Research underwaytocopewithhydropeaking • Holders of permitsobligatedtoensurefishmigration • Sucessfullpilotprojectto upgrade Hydropower plants • 243 small HPPs upgraded; plus 33% generation • all ecologicalrequirementsmet

6. Reconcile HP generation + ecology(4)Speaking Notes Austria is one of the countries with the highest shares of electricity production coming from hydropower generation. As a consequence, we have companies with an excellent worldwide reputation on equipment (turbines…); however, the dark side of the coin is a high number of hydropower plants blocking the migration of fish to their spawning grounds due to their lack of environmental flows as well as a lack of fish migration aids, the thereof resulting deterioration or even destruction of habitats by impoundings, and the effect of hydropeaking, where water levels and discharges change dramatically within a short time. Together, these effects result in a dramatic loss of biodiversity not compatible with our overall water management goal to achieve a “good status” for all waters. To remedy the situation Austria – supported by Switzerland – has been a frontrunner in the context of the Alpine Convention to assess the situation in place via a “Situation report on hydropower generation in the Alps”: http://www.alpconv.org/en/organization/groups/WGWater/Documents/20111222_Situation_Report.pdf) and to develop “Common guidelines for the use of small hydropower” - http://www.alpconv.org/en/publications/alpine/Documents/SHP_common_guidelines_en.pdf. These efforts were mirrored by Austria – supported by Romania and Slovenia – in the Danube Basin, where similar reports and guidelines were produced (http://www.icpdr.org/main/activities-projects/guiding-principles-sustainable-hydropower ). In both cases products were adopted by all contracting parties and recommended for application. Key messages are i.a. that fish migration aids and appropriate environmental flows are key requirements for new hydropower installations; installations already in place will have to adapt.

7. Reconcile HP generation + ecology(5)Speaking Notes Currently efforts are under way in Austria to remediate negative effects of hydropower generation on river ecology. Research efforts are under way to cope with negative impacts of hydropeaking on river ecology without impacting ability of schemes to stabilise power grids during peak demand. Measures to improve ecology of rivers are often suspected to reduce the amount of hydropower generation due to loss of water for fish migration aids and environmental flows. And here I am really proud to refer to a pilot scheme of one of our provinces which encourages technical upgrading of small hydropower plants while at the same time meeting all ecological requirements (e.g. fish passes, environmental flows…) by providing financial incentives. Key to success was technical advice on feasibility provided free of charge and modest financial support of investments. Results were extremely encouraging. 243 small hydropower plants are now meeting our ecological requirements enshrined in our national legislation while enhancing production at the same time by 33% on average. We are really proud about being front runners to reconcile hydro power generation with river ecology and for demonstrating, that this can be often done without losses in production. • Thank you for your kind attention.