Dam Solutions - Energy
Is renewable always sustainable?
A sufficient and sustainable supply of electricity to the world’s population is one of today’s greatest challenges. The current system of electricity production, including a 17% contribution of hydropower, is failing large parts of the population.
Close to 2 billion people have no access to electricity, and on top of that, the reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil is rapidly leading to climate change. Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources are the way forward. Yet the role of hydropower is not without controversy.
Renewable energy and hydropower
Renewable energy is produced by transforming the natural energy flows of the Earth such as the sun, water, wind and biomass. These sources are permanently available and are non-polluting.
But in the case of large hydropower stations, is renewable energy truly sustainable?
The scale of the environmental damage created by the construction and operation of some hydropower stations is such that they should not be described as sustainable. And hydropower is not always emission free: it has been shown that shallow reservoirs in the tropics can emit substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, two important greenhouse gases.
Besides the environmental impacts, the social and economic risks can be enormous. In developing countries in particular, the poorest people rarely benefit from large-scale hydropower dams. Instead, dams are often planned for export of electricity, like Nam Theun 2 in Laos and Mphanda Nkuwa in Mozambique.
The debate on hydropower and renewables is ongoing. To learn more read the report by the International Rivers Network Twelve Reasons to Exclude Large Hydro from Renewables Initiatives (PDF: 948 KB) and the International Hydropower Association's report Top Ten Reasons to Include Hydropower in All Renewable Energy Initiatives (PDF: 144 KB).
Alternatives are here
WWF, in its PowerSwitch campaign, challenges the power sector to become CO2-free by 2050 in developed countries and make a major switch from coal to clean in developing countries. WWF believes that hydropower can play a role in combating climate change, but that greater priority needs to be given to improving energy efficiency and upgrading existing plants.
In those cases where it is shown without doubt that a new hydro plant is the best option - economically, environmentally and socially - it should be built in accordance with WCD recommendations. Small hydropower and so-called 'run-of-the-river' plants often offer lower impact alternatives to large dams.
