Carinthia faces debate over hydropower expansion

Carinthia could theoretically produce another 1.67 terawatt-hours of electricity a year from hydropower, but conservationists warn that further construction could damage rivers. ORF reported on the debate in its Carinthia radio programme Streitkultur on Monday.

The Hammer plant in Frantschach is currently the only hydropower station being built on a flowing river in Carinthia. It is due to begin operating next year and supply electricity to 2,000 households. The old weir has been removed, allowing fish to swim both upstream and downstream. This is expected to improve the ecological status of the Lavant river from moderate to good.

Carinthia has 750 hydropower facilities. Small and micro plants make up 89 per cent of them but generate only two per cent of the region’s total electricity output. A state analysis says the theoretical additional output of 1.67 terawatt-hours a year could supply more than 470,000 average households. The potential could be reached by building new plants and modernising existing ones.

Gernot Koboltschnig of the Carinthian water management department said additional hydropower would probably be needed, but argued for an efficient mix of renewable energy sources.

The WWF considers hydropower in Carinthia already fully developed. Bettina Urbanek of WWF Austria said too many plants had been built along too many river stretches. Further development, she warned, could damage ecologically intact stretches needed as protection against heat, drought and water shortages, while producing relatively little electricity. She called for a swift change in approach.

Power operator Kelag supports building new plants, expanding existing ones and developing pumped-storage hydropower. Christian Rupp of Kelag Generation said renewal, efficiency improvements and greater flexibility would need to be pursued at the same time.