Development of the Rhône and reserved flow

Abstract

Operations to increase the reserve flows and to restore the by-passed sections of the RHONE River have considerable ecological aims that can however, lead to a loss of renewable energy sources if the economic conditions for building small hydropower plants to harness the additional reserve flows are not satisfied. The only means of economically justifying investments to exploit the energy of additional reserve flows, and thus implement a complete approach consistent with the Kyoto objectives, is to apply adapted prices that take into account, for example, the cost of renewable energy and to call on local external funds (Refer to PIERRE BENITE development); however, these are difficult to raise.