hydropower
Newsletter
Hydropower's challenges and opportunities amid climate change
Hydropower faces increased vulnerability due to climate change as droughts and high temperatures affect water levels in Colombia and Ecuador, impacting energy production.
In short:
- Droughts in Colombia and Ecuador have led to significant reductions in hydropower capacity, causing power cuts and water rationing.
- Matthew McCartney highlights hydropower's dependence on water availability, stressing its susceptibility to climate change.
- Innovations such as floating solar panels on reservoirs are being explored to maintain energy output despite fluctuating water levels.
Key quote:
"Hydropower is dependent on water so clearly if there is no water at all then hydropower cannot be used, disrupting energy production and stressing energy systems."
— Matthew McCartney, expert on sustainable water infrastructure with the International Water Management Institute
Why this matters:
Traditionally, hydropower has been a powerhouse of renewable energy, capitalizing on the earth's natural water cycle to generate electricity without direct carbon emissions. Yet, the very climate shifts that beckon for cleaner energy sources also spawn erratic rainfall patterns, severe droughts, and changing river flows—factors that could diminish hydropower's reliability.
While clean hydropower reduces air pollution from fossil fuels, the creation of reservoirs has been linked to increases in waterborne diseases and impacts on local communities.
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Newsletter
Photo by Gabor Koszegi on Unsplash
Watch: Should we tear down dams, or use hydropower to fight climate change?
Hydropower from dams is the primary source of clean energy in Idaho, whose major power company has pledged 100% clean energy by 2045. But when dams threaten natural rivers and fish, can hydropower really count as clean?
Newsletter
Photo by Alex Bagirov on Unsplash
As projects decline, the era of building big dams draws to a close
Escalating construction costs, the rise of solar and wind power, and mounting public opposition have led to a precipitous decrease in massive new hydropower projects. Experts say the world has hit “peak dams,” which conservationists hail as good news for riverine ecosystems.
Photo by Foto Phanatic on Unsplash
Hydro project on Susquehanna River draws controversy
A proposal to support renewable energy would flood 580 acres.
commons.wikimedia.org
Pennsylvania ranks near bottom of states in renewable energy generation
Data from the federal Energy Information Administration shows Pennsylvania comes in 45th in the country in energy production from wind, solar, and hydropower. Only 3% of total energy comes from those sources in the state.
christian0702/Flickr
‘A time bomb’: India’s sinking holy town faces grim future
Inside a shrine overlooking snow-capped mountains, Hindu priests closed their eyes and chanted in Sanskrit, hoping their prayers would somehow turn back time and save their holy — and sinking — town.
Opinion
Mark Z Jacobson: We don’t need ‘miracle’ technologies to fix the climate. We have the tools now
Wind, water and solar energy is cheap, effective and green. We don’t need experimental or risky energy sources to save our planet.
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