The richness of the hydropower potential of BIH is being written about for decades, and every new project of its exploitations causes a lot of attention in both entities. Among the new investments, in the last year of particular interest are small hydropower plants, which proved to be environmentally justified and economically viable.
Experts say that that there is an advantage of small hydropower plants in comparison to big ones, and in addition to supplying the population with electricity, it regulates water flow (to solve the problem of flash floods, prevent formation of sediment), to create an opportunity for irrigation, sport and commercial fishing, and to have recreational zones.
Since hydropower plants use renewable energy resources, the bad impact on the environment is minimal. All the water that is necessary for the production of electricity is returned to the watercourse, without losses and fear of possible contamination.
The potential of rivers in BiH and the viability of small hydropower plants has long been recognized, and an example of this is the company Paloč” from Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplja, which until now has participated in the construction and financing of several such projects. The newest one is the mHE “Voljevac” in Gornji Vakuf, which should be put into operation in two to three months.
Igor Zeko, the head of Commercial in “Paloč”, said that these types of activities have begun since it is about ‘green economy’, renewable energy resources, as well as favorable conditions.
Every river in BiH has potential for small hydropower plants. What is most important is the functioning of the plant, the fall and amount of water, from water intake to entry operators.
Small hydropower plants, in addition to being built by smaller rivers and streams and canals, are also built by water supply systems.
There is a plan to build around 500 small hydropower plants in BiH. “Elektroprivredi BiH” are interested in projects on the basin of the rivers Neretva, and “Elektroprivredi HZ HB” are interested to build by the rivers Cetina, Trebižat, Mlada, Lištica…
(Source: ekapija.com)
