17 Exploitation of Rivers in Poland for Electricity …
329
where η e – efficiency of the hydropower plant.
Poland’s water resources determined on the basis of larger river flows are at an
average level. The Vistula and the Odra have the largest river flows in Poland in
their estuary sections. Watercourses with smaller flows can get higher power using
a higher head. From the point of view of energy use of rivers, the differences in the
height of the terrain in Poland compared to other countries are small, because they
result from the prevailing lowland nature of the area. Knowing these two parameters,
i.e. flow and head, it is possible to evaluate the energy potential of individual rivers.
Calculations of potential energy resources of the Polish rivers were made at the
beginning of the twentieth century and presented in the form of water energy cadastre.
The development of the cadastre of the mountain and foothills rivers of the Odra
tributaries began in 1909 and was completed in 1914. In a later period, the calculations
were made, and the updated cadastral changes were modified [11].
The theoretical water resources of Polish rivers were identified in the sixties of the
twentieth century, based on the methodology of the World Energy Council. The calculations made by Hoffmann show that the theoretical energy resources of Poland’s
rivers are on average 2625 MW of power and about 23 TWh/year [12, 13]. The technical resources of all flowing waters in Poland are 14 TWh/year, which accounts for
61% of all theoretical resources. The Vistula River basin has the greatest potential
(9.3 TWh/year) and the Odra basin (2.5 TWh/year). Other technical resources refer
to coastal rivers and small hydropower plants. In comparison with other European
countries, this potential is small.
In 2016, 2139.4 GWh of electricity was produced in Poland from water energy,
which is only 15% of the technical potential of rivers [10]. This shows that the energy
resources of the Polish rivers are being used on a low level, and their use is among
the lowest in Europe.
17.3 Historical Aspects of the Construction of Hydropower
Plants in Poland
The beginnings of the development of hydropower in Poland date back to the end of
the nineteenth century. Initially, these were low-power hydropower plants (less than
1 MW).
In total, in the years 1898–1906, in the areas covered by the current Polish
borders, the production of 5 hydroelectric plants with a total capacity of 2.1 MW
began. Starting from 1907 until the outbreak of World War I, in 1914, a total of 22
hydropower plants with a total capacity of 26.9 MW were created, of which 7 on the
left-bank tributaries of the central Odra, including the largest Pilchowice on the Bóbr
River at that time with power 7.5 MW. Almost in the time (1908), full development
(cascade) of the Radunia River in Kashubia was begun, but it was finished only in
1937. This period is characterized by “rapid development of hydropower for local
needs in the western and northern territories”. World War I, only 5 objects were
329
where η e – efficiency of the hydropower plant.
Poland’s water resources determined on the basis of larger river flows are at an
average level. The Vistula and the Odra have the largest river flows in Poland in
their estuary sections. Watercourses with smaller flows can get higher power using
a higher head. From the point of view of energy use of rivers, the differences in the
height of the terrain in Poland compared to other countries are small, because they
result from the prevailing lowland nature of the area. Knowing these two parameters,
i.e. flow and head, it is possible to evaluate the energy potential of individual rivers.
Calculations of potential energy resources of the Polish rivers were made at the
beginning of the twentieth century and presented in the form of water energy cadastre.
The development of the cadastre of the mountain and foothills rivers of the Odra
tributaries began in 1909 and was completed in 1914. In a later period, the calculations
were made, and the updated cadastral changes were modified [11].
The theoretical water resources of Polish rivers were identified in the sixties of the
twentieth century, based on the methodology of the World Energy Council. The calculations made by Hoffmann show that the theoretical energy resources of Poland’s
rivers are on average 2625 MW of power and about 23 TWh/year [12, 13]. The technical resources of all flowing waters in Poland are 14 TWh/year, which accounts for
61% of all theoretical resources. The Vistula River basin has the greatest potential
(9.3 TWh/year) and the Odra basin (2.5 TWh/year). Other technical resources refer
to coastal rivers and small hydropower plants. In comparison with other European
countries, this potential is small.
In 2016, 2139.4 GWh of electricity was produced in Poland from water energy,
which is only 15% of the technical potential of rivers [10]. This shows that the energy
resources of the Polish rivers are being used on a low level, and their use is among
the lowest in Europe.
17.3 Historical Aspects of the Construction of Hydropower
Plants in Poland
The beginnings of the development of hydropower in Poland date back to the end of
the nineteenth century. Initially, these were low-power hydropower plants (less than
1 MW).
In total, in the years 1898–1906, in the areas covered by the current Polish
borders, the production of 5 hydroelectric plants with a total capacity of 2.1 MW
began. Starting from 1907 until the outbreak of World War I, in 1914, a total of 22
hydropower plants with a total capacity of 26.9 MW were created, of which 7 on the
left-bank tributaries of the central Odra, including the largest Pilchowice on the Bóbr
River at that time with power 7.5 MW. Almost in the time (1908), full development
(cascade) of the Radunia River in Kashubia was begun, but it was finished only in
1937. This period is characterized by “rapid development of hydropower for local
needs in the western and northern territories”. World War I, only 5 objects were