Around 100 years ago, almost 7,000 mills, waterwheels or small turbines were still in operation in Switzerland, some of which generated electricity while others were intended for mechanical uses. Due to insufficient viability, the majority of these facilities were subsequently closed down. But since the 1990s, small hydropower plants have come back into favour again thanks to federal government action programmes aimed at promoting renewable energy.

The main objective of the Small Hydropower programme is to cost-effectively exploit the existing expansion potential of small-scale plants with an output up to 1 MW by directly and indirectly promoting corresponding projects.