Survey Of Energy Resources
HYDRO POWER


The inevitable increase in energy consumption

It is easy to predict that world energy demand, and especially that for electricity, will increase greatly during this 21st century, not only because of demographic pressures, but also through an improvement in living standards in the less developed countries, which will represent 7 billion inhabitants in 2050 (78% of the total).

Consumption of primary energy will increase up to threefold by the middle of this century, and the increase will be even greater for electricity. In view of this situation, many sources of energy will be necessary, but for environmental reasons, a high priority should be the development of all technically feasible potential from clean renewable sources, especially hydropower.

Characteristics of hydropower

The most important characteristics of hydropower can be summarised as follows:

  • its resources are widely spread around the world. Potential exists in about 150 countries, and approximately two-thirds of the economically feasible potential remains to be developed. This is mostly in developing countries, where the capacity is most urgently required;
  • it is a proven and well advanced technology, with more than a century of experience. Modern power plants provide extremely efficient energy conversion;
  • it plays a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in terms of avoided generation by fossil fuels. Hydro is a relatively small source of atmospheric emissions compared with fossil-fired generating options;
  • the production of peak load energy from hydropower allows for the best use to be made of base load power from other less flexible electricity sources. Its fast response time can add substantially to the reliability and quality of the electrical system;
  • it has the lowest operating costs and longest plant life, compared with other large-scale generating options. Once the initial investment has been made in the necessary civil works, the plant life can be extended economically by relatively cheap maintenance and periodic replacement of the electromechanical equipment;
  • as hydro plants are often integrated within multipurpose developments, the projects can help to meet other fundamental human needs (for example, irrigation for food supply, domestic and industrial water supply, flood protection). The reservoir water may also be used for other functions such as fisheries, discharge regulation downstream for navigation improvements, and recreation. Hydropower plants can help to finance these multipurpose benefits, as well as some environmental improvements in the area, such as the creation of wildlife habitats;
  • the ‘fuel’ (water) is renewable, and is not subject to fluctuations in market conditions. Hydro can also represent energy independence for many countries.