ABSTRACT
Hydropower resources in Lithuania are evaluated as about 2.7 billion KWh/year. The technical hydropower resources of the biggest Lithuanian river Nemunas (937 km length, 98220 km2 river basin, average annual flow — 634 m3/s) makes up 1.47 billion kWh/year or 55.6% of all technical resources. Therefore it is very important to investigate the feasibility of these hydropower resources utilization, because large HPP are more efficient and significant comparing with small (< 10 MW). However the environmental requirements for large HPP are stricter. Revival of small HPP have already begun in Lithuania by rehabilitation of abandoned HPP and by erecting small HPP on existing water ponds. The article deals with the technical, economic and environmental feasibilities of the 2 large hydro power plants construction on the middle of the River Nemunas: Birstonas and Alytus HPP. In the case of Ignalina NPP closure the attractiveness of these HPP projects would significantly increase. The cascade of operating Kaunas HPP and proposed 2 new HPP is able to produce about 1 TWh/year.
