Ameer Randolph
Hydropower is a renewable energy source that uses the mechanical energy of falling water to generate electricity. It is a low-carbon technology that helps to mitigate carbon emissions from fossil fuels. Hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy in the world, accounting for 17% of the world's electricity. It offers flexibility, efficiency, and security for electricity systems, making it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. While hydropower has some drawbacks, such as the high cost of dam construction and potential environmental impacts, its ability to quickly ramp up and down, coupled with low greenhouse gas emissions, makes it a valuable tool in the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hydropower's share of renewable energy | 17% of the world's electricity |
| Hydropower's share compared to other renewables | Largest share of renewable energy in the world |
| Hydropower's share compared to fossil fuels | Hydropower prevents the emission of GHG corresponding to the burning of 4.4 million barrels of petroleum per day worldwide |
| Hydropower's flexibility | Can quickly go from zero to maximum output, making it an essential backup power during outages |
| Hydropower's cost | Affordable in the short and long term |
| Hydropower's carbon footprint | Low |
| Hydropower's carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels | Only wind and nuclear power have lower median lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than hydropower |
| Hydropower's carbon footprint compared to coal | Replacing hydropower with coal would increase emissions by 4 billion tonnes annually |
| Hydropower's carbon footprint compared to gas | Hydropower has a median greenhouse gas emission intensity of 24 gCO₂-eq/kWh over its life-cycle, compared to gas at 490 gCO₂-eq/kWh |
| Hydropower's carbon footprint compared to other energy sources | Among the cleanest sources of electricity with low greenhouse gas emission intensity |
| Hydropower's role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels | Helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and cut down global greenhouse gas emissions |
| Hydropower's role in global warming | Can help retard global warming |
| Hydropower's efficiency | Greater efficiency compared to other renewables |
| Hydropower's energy storage | Pumped storage hydropower can store energy, acting like a green, rechargeable battery |
| Hydropower's reliability | Reliable source of energy |
| Hydropower's versatility | Can be used for multiple purposes beyond electricity generation, including water supply, flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water |
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What You'll Learn
Hydropower is a low-carbon technology
Hydropower is a renewable energy source that relies on the water cycle, driven by the sun. It has a low median greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity of 24 gCO₂-eq/kWh, compared to 490 gCO₂-eq/kWh for gas and 820 gCO₂-eq/kWh for coal. The long lifespan of hydropower assets means that emissions associated with construction can be spread out over a much longer period compared to technologies with shorter lifespans.
However, the creation of reservoirs for hydropower can result in greenhouse gas emissions due to the decomposition of flooded organic material. These emissions tend to be highest in the first 10 to 20 years after reservoir impoundment and then decrease over time. The depth and shape of the reservoir, the amount of sunlight reaching its floor, and wind speed all influence the different pathways by which CO₂ and CH₄ are created and released.
The G-res Tool has been developed to enable stakeholders to estimate the net change in GHG emissions attributable to a specific reservoir, taking into account pre-impoundment conditions and various freshwater services provided by the reservoir. While some reservoirs emit GHGs, others can act as carbon sinks, absorbing more emissions than they release.
Overall, hydropower is a low-carbon technology that provides a reliable and cost-effective alternative to electricity generation by fossil fuels, contributing to the global effort to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
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Hydropower is a renewable energy source
Hydropower, also known as hydroelectric power, is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy. It uses the natural flow of water to generate electricity. Hydropower is a low-carbon technology that helps to mitigate the carbon emissions of fossil fuels. It is a flexible power source that can quickly go from zero to maximum output, making it essential backup power during major electricity outages or disruptions. The water cycle, which is driven by the sun, powers hydropower, making it a renewable energy source.
Hydropower has a relatively low cost throughout a project's lifetime, including expenses such as maintenance, operations, and fuel. The equipment used at hydropower facilities often operates for longer periods without needing replacements or repairs, resulting in cost savings over time. Hydropower is also a domestic source of energy, allowing each state to produce its own energy without relying on international fuel sources.
The benefits of hydropower have been recognized and harnessed for thousands of years. It is a reliable, versatile, and low-cost source of clean electricity generation and responsible water management. Hydropower plants provide essential power, storage, flexibility, and climate mitigation services. They also offer multiple benefits beyond electricity generation, such as flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), hydropower accounts for nearly a third of the world's capacity for flexible electricity supply. The IEA and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) emphasize that to achieve a cost-effective and feasible global net-zero energy system by 2050, the existing capacity of hydropower will need to be doubled. This expansion of hydropower is expected to generate around 600,000 skilled jobs over the next decade.
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Hydropower is a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels
Hydropower has a low carbon footprint, helping to mitigate the carbon emissions of fossil fuels. The median greenhouse gas emission intensity of hydropower is 24 gCO₂-eq/kWh, while for gas, it is 490 gCO₂-eq/kWh. Hydropower can also act as a carbon sink, absorbing more emissions than it emits. The flexibility of hydropower makes it an excellent complement to other renewable energy sources like wind and solar. It can quickly ramp up or down electricity generation, making it ideal for addressing fluctuations in consumption and maintaining a balance between supply and demand.
Hydropower is affordable in the short and long term. Construction costs can be mitigated by utilizing existing structures such as bridges, tunnels, and dams. Once operational, hydropower provides low-cost electricity with excellent durability. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that to achieve a cost-effective global net-zero energy system by 2050, the existing capacity of hydropower will need to be doubled.
Hydropower also provides benefits beyond electricity generation. It offers flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water. Additionally, many hydropower installations provide public access to reservoirs for recreational activities like fishing, boating, and swimming. Hydropower is an essential component of the clean energy transition, providing power, storage, flexibility, and climate mitigation services.
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Hydropower provides flexibility and security to electricity systems
Hydropower is a flexible power source that can quickly go from zero to maximum output. This ability to add power to the grid immediately makes it an essential backup power source during major electricity outages or disruptions. In fact, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that the firm capacity of U.S. hydropower facilities is estimated to be over 24 GW, enough to power between 16 and 24 million homes.
Hydropower is also a renewable, low-carbon source of energy that helps to mitigate the carbon emissions of fossil fuels. It is driven by the water cycle, which is powered by the sun. Technologies like pumped storage hydropower (PSH) can store energy and further increase the flexibility of hydropower.
Hydropower is also a cost-effective source of electricity. The global weighted average cost of electricity from hydropower projects in 2022 was $0.061 per kWh, making it the lowest-cost source of electricity in many markets. In addition, the construction costs of hydropower facilities can be mitigated by using pre-existing structures such as bridges, tunnels, and dams. Once operational, hydropower provides low-cost electricity and durability over time.
Hydropower is also a reliable source of electricity. It has been recognised and harnessed for thousands of years, and modern hydropower plants are accelerating the clean energy transition, providing essential power, storage, flexibility, and climate mitigation services. Hydropower is also a key asset for building secure, clean electricity systems and reaching global net-zero targets. The IEA and IRENA state that to achieve a cost-effective and feasible global net-zero energy system by 2050, the existing capacity of hydropower will need to be doubled.
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Hydropower has a low carbon footprint
Hydropower is a low-carbon technology that helps to mitigate the carbon emissions of fossil fuels. It is a reliable and cost-effective alternative to electricity generation by fossil fuels.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report noted that only wind and nuclear power have lower median lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than hydropower. Independent research suggests that the use of hydropower instead of fossil fuels for electricity generation has helped to avoid more than 100 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide in the past 50 years alone. This is roughly equivalent to the total annual carbon footprint of the United States for 20 years. If hydropower was replaced with coal to generate electricity, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) estimates that more than 4 billion metric tonnes of additional greenhouse gases would be emitted annually, and global emissions from fossil fuels and industry would be at least 10% higher.
Hydropower relies on the water cycle, which is driven by the sun, making it a renewable source of energy. The flexibility of hydropower as a power source is another advantage. It can quickly go from zero to maximum output, making it an essential backup power source during major electricity outages or disruptions. Technologies like pumped storage hydropower (PSH) can store energy.
However, it is important to note that hydropower's carbon footprint is not always accurately represented in comparisons with other energy sources. Current carbon accounting practices do not properly account for timescale or the effects of climate change. More research and data are needed to accurately quantify hydropower's carbon footprint and compare it with other energy sources.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, hydropower is a renewable source of energy as it relies on the water cycle, which is driven by the sun.
Hydropower is a significant component of electricity production globally, accounting for 17% of the world's electricity. However, it is challenging to compare the energy production of hydropower and fossil fuels directly as they are different sources of energy with varying capacities and applications. That being said, hydropower is a reliable, versatile, and low-cost source of clean electricity generation, making it a valuable alternative to fossil fuels.
Hydropower is a low-carbon technology that helps mitigate the carbon emissions associated with fossil fuels. According to independent research, the use of hydropower instead of fossil fuels for electricity generation has helped avoid more than 100 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the past 50 years.
Hydropower has a lower greenhouse gas emission intensity compared to fossil fuels. It is also a flexible power source that can quickly go from zero to maximum output, making it an essential backup power option during electricity outages or disruptions. Additionally, hydropower provides benefits beyond electricity generation, including flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water.
