20.500.12556/DKUM-89246 Small hydropower plants in Western Balkan countries status, controversies and a proposed model for decision making Background: As the countries of the Western Balkans (WB) have committed to sustainable development, the process of regulatory and economic adjustment is underway. As part of the aforementioned fact, the WB countries have commenced exploitation of energy from renewable sources, among which hydropower is the most important. The main objective of the study is to analyse the status of renewable energy transition in the WB region, focusing on the construction and exploitation of small hydropower plants (SHPPs), as well as a proposal for an original model for decision making in this field, based on a multidimensional decision-making space. Namely, in most cases, there is resistance to the construction of SHPPs in the WB territory, as well as divided opinion among investors, companies, environmental movements, academia, and citizens on this issue. This shows that the entire decision-making process has to be reviewed and re-designed. Results: The results of the study show that the construction of SHPPs caused damage to environmentally protected areas, living conditions of local communities, touristic and agricultural potential. All of the foregoing matters have led to mass protests by citizens and a high degree of mistrust so that the future of SHPPs in the WB is extremely uncertain. The assessment of the acceptability of existing SHPPs through the proposed model showed that 74% of SHPPs cannot be considered acceptable from the aspect of the location where they were built, and from the aspect of the impact on the quality of life of the local population. Accordingly, this paper provides suggestions for much-needed improvements. Conclusions: The construction of SHPPs is causing numerous controversies, opposition, and resistance. To find the right solution, and contribute to sustainable energy and economic development, it is necessary to develop a fully transparent and objective policy system in this field, and to use contemporary models for decision making with emphasis on the involvement local communities in the decision-making process. sustainable energy transition small hydropower plants environmental awareness modelling decision making process Western Balkans trajnostni energetski prehod majhne hidroelektrarne okoljska ozaveščenost modeliranje proces odločanja Zahodni Balkan true false true Springer Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Znanstveno delo 2024-06-28 13:57:57 2024-06-28 14:14:35 2024-06-29 03:56:42 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2022 0 0 Str. 1-13 Št. članka 9 Letn. 12 2022 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2021-09-15 2022-01-28 2022-02-14 502.131.1:620.92/.98 97351939 10.1186/s13705-022-00335-7 2192-0567 Pavlakovic-2022-Small_hydropower_plants_in_Wes.pdf Pavlakovic-2022-Small_hydropower_plants_in_Wes.pdf 1 1D86E89BE6817A14C6E84F88E144784C 3958fb21f23c472f22d6a637df5c79e16516d66b45163c9faa2d8ab8fffb4357 e657aa7b-3546-11ef-8d5f-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=180889 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-022-00335-7 0 aa9389a8-3545-11ef-8d5f-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=180888 Fakulteta za turizem Fakulteta za logistiko 0 0 0