Here are some key talking points of small hydroelectric power in France — its scale, what it is, where it’s used, and some current developments:
What “small hydro” means in France
- Definition: Small hydro (petite hydroélectricité) generally refers to hydroelectric plants with installed power below about 10 MW. This includes:
- Pico-hydro: < 20 kW
- Micro: 20 kW – 500 kW
- Mini: 500 kW – 2 MW
- Small hydro: ~2 MW – 10 MW.
- Most installations are “run-of-river” (au fil de l’eau), meaning they don’t have big reservoirs — they use the natural flow of rivers to generate power.
Scale of small hydro in France
- France has around 2 200 – 2 700 small hydro plants with about 2.2 GW of installed capacity total. They produce around 6–7 TWh of electricity per year, roughly 10 % of France’s total hydroelectric generation.
Where and how they’re used
- These installations are widely spread across the French territory, especially in mountainous areas (Alps, Jura, Pyrenees) where rivers have enough gradient (height difference) to generate power.
- Many are owned by local producers or small companies rather than big utilities.
- Smaller micro- and pico-hydro units are sometimes used for local, off-grid power or to feed electricity back into the grid as distributed renewable generation.
Examples & projects
- Large companies like Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) are building new small hydro plants on existing river systems in France (e.g., along the Rhône) to boost renewable generation while adding ecological features like fish passes.
- There are also micro hydro installations integrated into existing water systems, such as a Pelton-turbine project on a water network in Haute-Savoie producing about 15 kW.
Environmental considerations
- Although small hydro is renewable and produces continuous electricity, environmental concerns exist, particularly about river ecology and fish migration. Projects often include fish passes or other mitigation measures.
Summary
Small hydro in France – Key Points
✔ ~2,200 – 2,700 plants ‹ 10 MW
✔ ~2.2 GW installed capacity
✔ ~6–7 TWh annual production (≈10 % of hydro)
✔ Mostly run-of-river installations
✔ Mix of private and public ownership
✔ Often tied to ecological regulations and local water rights