Methodological guide for the implementation of outstanding hydroelectric plants

This guide proposes a methodological approach to the set up of a small hydroelectricity project, with a definition of environmental limits of developments with respect to the operation of aquatic environments of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PACA) region. After a presentation of the context of small hydroelectricity in Europe, France and PACA region and of water resource and usages in PACA, it presents the adopted approach to the environmental compatibility of a project, notably through a feasibility study comprising five phases (data collection about the project and identification of environmental stakes, initiative of the administrative course, definition of the project type and writing of specifications, feasibility study, choice of a development scenario). Several tool sheets are proposed for small hydroelectricity projects and regarding various aspects: definitions and context, regulatory aspects, feasibility study and compatibility, legal-administrative aspects, connection to the network, technical and practical aspects