Jatautas, Jaunius

Interesų grupės vaidina svarbų vaidmenį formuojant viešąją politiką atsinaujinančios energetikos srityje, tačiau ne visos veiklos yra rezultatyvios (pvz., ne visos siūlomos įstatymo pataisos yra priimamos) ir daro įtaką sektoriaus veiklai. Straipsniu siekiama ištirti atsinaujinančios energetikos sektoriuje veikiančias interesų grupes ir jų veiklos įtaką viešosios politikos formavimui 2008– 2018 m. Tyrimo metu buvo nagrinėti Seime registruoti teisės aktai bei jų pakeitimai; interesų grupių dalyvavimas Seimo komitetų posėdžiuose; interesų grupių teikiami siūlymai, šių pateiktų siūlymų priėmimo dažnumas. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad aktyviausios teikiant įstatymų pataisas interesų grupės yra viešojo valdymo organizacijos ir jų asociacijos, Seimo nariai ir komitetai, verslo intereso grupės, mažiausiai aktyvios – visuomeninio intereso grupės; didžiausia įtaka išsiskyrė Seimo narių teikiami siūlymai.

Abstract. Development of renewable energy sources together with sustainable development covers a complicated range of issues which require complex assessment in the context of Lithuania’s energy independence. Hydropower is an integral part of renewable energy resources and affects both the natural environment and human society. Although negative impact of hydropower on the environment is acknowledged, advances in modern technology can reduce the potential damage, especially when developing a network of small hydropower plants in Lithuania. Moreover, implementation and continuity of this kind of projects enables to improve the economic and social situation, e.g. by creating new jobs. Construction of small hydropower plants in combination with a sustainable development strategy would help to avoid the possible damage to the natural environment and would contribute to improvement of the country’s economic and social landscape. Limitation of the negative impact on the environment is primarily based on technological solutions – the appropriate construction of fish ladders or other passes at dams enables fish migration. Meanwhile, contribution to improvement of the economic and social situation in the case of small hydropower plants depends on political decisions and activity of lobby groups.

Hydropower as a renewable energy source is a serious future alternative to organic fuel power and environmental protection. Its use is least damaging to the environment in comparison to thermal and nuclear power. Hydropower is a constant generating source and a type of energy that yields most return. Based on this approach, the article assesses the hydropower development, reveals the reasons behind the hindrance of renewable energy source development, evaluates the tendencies and development prospects, draws the conclusions and presents the recommendations. This article reflects the concept of the latest findings of scientific research and practical interface. Planning, design, construction and operation of hydropower facilities, must be determined on how they may affect the natural state of water bodies, it is imperative to analyze and assess the environmental protection effectiveness. Natural water bodies should not be modified without an environmental impact assessment.

The article analyzes the effect of the Lithuanian legislation on hydropower development via the document content analysis and comparative analysis of legislation and scientific literature. The main focus of the article is on assessing the hydropower potential in line with the environmental legislation and establishing the possible development priorities. Effective legislative activity and energy sector management stimulate the production and consumption of electricity from renewable energy (RE) sources, which serve as an alternative to organic fuel, while in Lithuania, nonharmonized legislation creates barriers for effective and socially beneficial use of hydropower. The environmental policy in Lithuania is one of the most rigorous in the European Union. The unconditional prohibition of dam building in ecologically and culturally valuable rivers means that the untapped hydropower potential in Lithuania is only 5%.

Lithuanian environmental and energy management regulates the development of hydroelectric power in the country. Hydropower is a renewable energy source (RE) that stands as a viable alternative solution for fossil fuel-based energy and environmental protection. The legislative provisions established by the European Union (EU) promotes the development of RE and hydropower by creating favourable conditions for the revision of national RE policy. The success of RE regulation in the EU depends not only on Member States’ legislative measures transposing the EU Directives and to eliminate obstacles for the development of hydropower, but also on the active role of the European Commission (EC) to ensure that legal acts set by EU are being implemented adequately. Current Lithuanian environmental policy is not compatible with the EU hydropower development principles. Particularly stringent environmental requirements caused complete suspension of large and small hydropower development. Therefore, this article reflects the new concept of scientific research, policy and practice interfaces.

Effective development of the legal framework promotes the production of energy from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) that provide an alternative to fossil fuel energy and environmental protection. A ccording to these provisions the Article performs content analysis of the Lithuanian RES legal framework and disc loses regulatory grounds and barriers to RES development.