CHAPTER 3: SMALL URBAN AND RURAL HYDROPOWER UNDER THE REIPPPP By Bohuslav (Bo) Barta PrEng. Specialist Consultant. Energy & Water Resources Engineering. SMALL URBAN AND RURAL HYDROPOWER UNDER THE RENEWABLE ENERGY INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME REIPPPP International Definition of Small Hydropower (SHP) There is currently no international consensus on the definition of SHP. The detailed hydropower capacity classification for South Africa is discussed in Volume 2 of the Sustainable Energy Resource Handbook (Chapter 8). However, during the process of developing South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (2010 – 2030), a constraint with regard to an upper limit of 10 MW for SHP as adopted in South Africa has been questioned by potential Independent Power Producers (IPPs) as being rather low in comparison to other countries, which are using much higher upper limits. The SHP classification as adopted around the world does not necessarily apply the upper limit of 10 MW, as is adopted in South Africa. Several countries have chosen and are observing different upper limits for SHP. Such countries are typically mountainous and well endowed with rich surface water resources. There are also regulatory issues which dictate a decision on the upper SHP cap. Table 1 Definition of SHP in some African countries Country Micro Mini Small Kenya < 10 kW 100 kW – 1 MW 1 MW – 10 MW Mali < 100 kW 100 kW – 1 MW 1 MW – 10MW 500 kW <1 MW < 10 MW Mozambique Nigeria < 25 MW Senegal 251 – 1 500 kW 1,5 MW – 2,5 MW 2,5 MW – 10 MW South Africa 20 kW – 100 kW 100 kW – 1 MW 1 MW - 10 MW Tunisia 20 kW – 100 kW 100 kW – 1 MW 1 MW – 10 MW Uganda < 100 kW <1 MW <10 MW Zambia < 300 kW 500 kW – 1 MW 1 MW – 10 MW Notes: (i) Source: International Water Power & Dam Construction (August 2012). (ii) Among those countries outside of the African continent with higher SHP limit than 10 MW are: Argentina (< 30 MW), Canada (< 50 MW), China (< 50 MW), Honduras (< 50 MW), Mexico (< 30 MW), and Pakistan (< 50 MW). (iii) South Africa: All installations below 20 kW are classified as pico, as it will apply to all other African countries where is the lower micro limit given. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY RESOURCE HANDBOOK EE 3 SMALL URBAN RURAL AND MINING HYDROPOWER IN SOUTH AFRICA.indd 57 57 2013/12/09 8:53 AM