Potentials of hydro-power in the conflict between ecological rationality and economic constrains

Hydro-power plants are the dominating part of electricity based on renewables. However, the keeping and maintaining of current hydro-power plants and the feasible extension by some 45 % is jeopardized under the conditions of the liberalized market and the subsidy policy discriminating large power plants. Appropriate subsidies, trading of branded electricity and trading of generation certificates could solve the problem. Despite the ambitious targets for extending plants using renewables the role of large hydro-power plants as an option able to supply much electricity is in danger due to the open market and the current situation of subsidies favouring smaller plants.