1. Hydraulic sizing

Small hydropower plants (SHP) are all hydropower plants with a capacity of less than 10 MW in Europe and 12 MW since law 2000-108 of February 10, 2000 in France (see ). At the time, 10 MW was chosen as the maximum power output that would not disrupt grid stability.

Small hydropower plants fall into several categories:

• picocentrales from 10 to 100 kW ;

• micro-power plants from 100 kW to 1 MW ;

• mini power plants from 1 MW to 10 or 15 MW.