Hydropower creates electricity generated using the energy of moving water, rain or melted snow water, usually originating from snow or hill stations. A hydroplant is a system made up of 3 parts; electric plant where the electricity is produced; a dam that can be open or closed to control water flow; a reservoir where water can be stored. The water behind the dam flows through an intake and pushes against blades in the turbine, causing them to turn, this produces electricity. The amount of electricity that can be generated depends on how far the water drops and how much water moves through the system. The electricity can the be transported over long-distances to electric lines and distributed into homes, factories and businesses (National Geographic, 2013). Hydropower can be harnessed on a small scale and even provide your home with clean renewable energy.
The use of hydropower can often provide economic, environmental and social benefits. The economic benefits of hydropower can be considered in terms of reducing energy dependency from other sources. Other benefits include the long-life span, low operational costs, attractive long-term payback ratios, low need for support schemes and high security. Social benefits can also arise which include the introduction of infrastructure which result in considerable contributions to local and regional budgets which may also apply. Some of the environmental benefits are climate change mitigation reducing carbon dioxide levels. Furthermore it creates no air pollution or nuclear waste meaning hydropower can be considered a very good source of renewable energy (Permanent secretariat of the Alpine convention, 2011).
However there have been some negative impacts associated with hydropower generation. The most obvious factor is that there is interruption to the river continuity, disrupting aquatic wildlife. In particular fish species have been considered to be impacted the most with fish not being able to migrate upstream past impoundment dams to spawning grounds. However mitigation techniques have been found such as using upstream fish passages aided by ‘fish ladders’ or elevators or by trapping the fish upstream by truck. Furthermore hydropower influences the water quality and flow causing low dissolved oxygen in water which is harmful to riparian buffers. Hydropower facilities impact the local environment and may compete with other uses of land further changing the ecological environments and creating conflict (Permanent secretariat of the Alpine convention, 2011). The use of hydropower in Switzerland has become particularly concerning where most rivers have become dammed to produce hydropower causing deep division between environmental organisations and utility operators (Truffer et al, 2001).
However, the production of high numbers of hydropower plants have been seen as particularly successful in the Alpine regions , where hydropower provides 75% of consumed electricity of which 60% is produced from storage reservoirs. The Dam of Mauvosin for example located in the south of the Swiss Alps has managed to produce 1000 GMh producing 2.5% of the total Swiss hydropower production (Schaefli et.al 2007) To make sure that hydropower is sustainable and maintained successfully, in 1999 a private non-organisation was founded to develop a broadly accepted standard of quality for Green electricity in Switzerland. The EAWAG assessment is used for certification of the Naturemade star label. Customer response shows whether the concept of greenpower can establish a new broadly accepted ecological standard (Truffer et. al, 2001). Other methods that ensure Switzerland’s hydropower is regulated is the use of International conferences such as ‘water in the alps’ as well as smaller organised conferences which take place throughout Europe where they discuss the Alps as “Europes green battery” (Barth,2012).
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References:
Barth, C. 2012. Sustainable hydropower- strategies for the Alpine region (pdf) Available at: http://www.alpconv.org/en/organization/groups/WGWater/waterinthealps/Documents/Vortrag%20Dr%20%20Barth%20-%20StMUG.pdf . Accessed on : 6th June 2013
National Geographic.2013. Hydropower. (online) Available at : http://environment.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment/global-warming/hydropower-profile/ . Accessed on : 6th june 2013
Peremenant secreatariat of the Alpine convention, 2011. Alpine convention, platform water management in the Alps (pdf) Available at: http://www.alpconv.org/en/organization/conference/Documents/AC11_B8_1_Situation_Report_FIN_annex024_1.pdf . Accessed on 6th June 2013.
Schaefli,B. Hingray, B., Musy, A. 2007. Climate change and hydropower production in the Swiss Alps: quantification of potential impacts and related modelling uncertainties. Hydrology earth system science. Vol 11(3) p1191-1205.
Truffer, B., Makard, J., Bratrich, C. Wehrli, B. 2001. Green electricity from alpine hydropower plants. Mountain Research and Development, Vol 21, pp. 19-24.
