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*HYDROPOWER* A thread
I just published this overview hydropower & climate change in @EnergyMonitorAI
It is a tricky area to untangle. Here's some of my key takeaways on the world's largest source of renewable power 1/ https://energymonitor.ai/technology/can-hydropower-be-part-of-a-clean-energy-future
I just published this overview hydropower & climate change in @EnergyMonitorAI
It is a tricky area to untangle. Here's some of my key takeaways on the world's largest source of renewable power 1/ https://energymonitor.ai/technology/can-hydropower-be-part-of-a-clean-energy-future
2/ Globally, hydropower dominates other renewables by A LOT. It still supplies over half of global clean electricity generation.
BUT the rapid rise of wind and solar power means its share of the renewable electricity mix will drop below 50% for the first time by 2024 (IEA)
BUT the rapid rise of wind and solar power means its share of the renewable electricity mix will drop below 50% for the first time by 2024 (IEA)
3/ Growth over the past 20 years has been massive in the Asia-Pacific region, dominated by China. Enormous dams are being built.
This is affecting biodiversity hotspots, including the Amazon, Congo, Salween and Mekong watersheds.
This is affecting biodiversity hotspots, including the Amazon, Congo, Salween and Mekong watersheds.
4/ Hydropower is useful because it provides a large baseload electricity.
It can also be used as a battery - in fact pumped storage hydropower still provides the vast majority of the world’s battery storage.
BUT hydropower changes w/ seasons & is vulnerable to climate change
It can also be used as a battery - in fact pumped storage hydropower still provides the vast majority of the world’s battery storage.
BUT hydropower changes w/ seasons & is vulnerable to climate change
5/ Hydro has many many caveats!
It requires vast mining to supply steel and cement. It disrupts river flow & ecosystems. It can have downstream impacts on different countries. Huge dams can displace many people.
It requires vast mining to supply steel and cement. It disrupts river flow & ecosystems. It can have downstream impacts on different countries. Huge dams can displace many people.
6/ It is linked to a lot of human rights issues.
The industry has by far the largest number of human rights allegations in the renewable energy sector, according to Jessie Cato from @BHRRC.
These are often around a lack of free, prior & informed consent by local communities.
The industry has by far the largest number of human rights allegations in the renewable energy sector, according to Jessie Cato from @BHRRC.
These are often around a lack of free, prior & informed consent by local communities.
7/ There are lessons here for other renewables.
Ensuring all renewables projects respect human rights is essential if the world is to achieve timely decarbonisation, says Cato.
Just because a project is low carbon doesn't mean it is free from these responsibilities.
Ensuring all renewables projects respect human rights is essential if the world is to achieve timely decarbonisation, says Cato.
Just because a project is low carbon doesn't mean it is free from these responsibilities.
8/ On that note… is hydro clean? Usually, compared to fossil fuels, yes.
But it has some emissions, in large part due to methane released from dams. In some cases these can be even bigger than coal plants.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b05083 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/authors?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0161947
But it has some emissions, in large part due to methane released from dams. In some cases these can be even bigger than coal plants.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b05083 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/authors?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0161947
9/ These emissions are hugely variable, making it hard to generalise on the climate impact of hydro.
But planners MUST take the climate impact of any project into account and must ALWAYS do proper, independent evaluations.
But planners MUST take the climate impact of any project into account and must ALWAYS do proper, independent evaluations.
10/ @ClimateBonds is developing a useful standard on this climate impact. It aims to ensure accredited hydropower projects are in line with the Paris Agreement, including on emissions and adaptation.
https://www.climatebonds.net/standard/hydropower
https://www.climatebonds.net/standard/hydropower
11/ End of thread. Read the full piece here: https://energymonitor.ai/technology/can-hydropower-be-part-of-a-clean-energy-future
Thanks to interviewees Jessie Cato from @BHRRC, @ilissaocko, Robi Robichaud from @WRIClimate, @markmulligan, Laura Scherer. & to @Jones_Pippa for edits and @nichferris for making the graphs!
Thanks to interviewees Jessie Cato from @BHRRC, @ilissaocko, Robi Robichaud from @WRIClimate, @markmulligan, Laura Scherer. & to @Jones_Pippa for edits and @nichferris for making the graphs!
