Discussion on small and medium-sized small hydropower enterprises in the EU – November 2012

SMEs are the backbone of the European economy as it is especially them that create sustainable jobs, growth and prosperity. In this sense, SME Europe (Small and Medium Entrepreneurs of Europe) organised the Hydropower Energy – Supply for a Future Europe discussion, organised on 28/11/12 in Brussels, Belgium, at the European Parliament Paul Rübig MEP, EP Committee on Industry, Research and Energy hosted and moderated the meeting. As the  website of SME Europe reads ‘the event ended with an interesting question and answers session and the presentation of a Small Hydropower Roadmap (SHP) providing a status report on energy, market and policy situation concerning SHP in each of the 27 EU member states by Martina Steinkusz, Communication Manager from the European Small Hydropower Association (ESHA). This document and a free database (HYDI) have been created in the framework of the Stream Map project, co-funded by the IEE programme of the European Commission.’ She further explained to the audience of around 50 people from EU institutions and industry that the HYDI database is being continuously used and updated within the framework of the RESTOR Hydro project and further shared some details about it.