scope:

This standard is addressed to design engineers and planners, plant construction companies, operators, the responsible authorities, and third parties within the area affected by hydroelectric installations. The term "installation" is used here as defined in Art. 3 (5) of the German Federal Pollution Control Act (BImSchG).

This standard for the first time brings together and concisely covers aspects of planning and engineering, construction, operation and supervision of hydroelectric installations. It describes the state of the art in general, provides references to further applicable standards, directives, and guidelines, and can be used as a basic guideline for approval and implementation. The focus is on regulations in the Federal Republic of Germany, and its applicability to other countries is to be examined in each individual case.

In the design and planning, construction, operation, and conversion of hydroelectric installations, multidisciplinary, balanced approaches are the most productive. One-sided orientation is unlikely to do justice to the complexity of the issues. It is therefore recommended, within the framework of the stipulations of law, to link at least the following areas with equal priority:

• technology

• cost-effectiveness

• environmental impact and compatibility with nature

• social compatibility Treating the above areas with equal priority allows the beneficial effects of using hydroelectric power to be identified. These include the following:

• almost CO₂-free power generation

• protection from flooding

• protection of the cultural landscape

• security of supply (storage)

• opportunities for waste disposal from the drifting material

• stabilization of groundwater levels

• The installations can be combined with multipurpose uses such as establishing navigable waterways, flood protection, or recreation