Introduction
Imagine a world where clean, renewable energy is within reach. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (°C ) above preindustrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C by 2100 (Meng et al., 2020). The impacts of the increase in global temperature have been studied extensively, including their effects on hydropower technology.
However, the debate over hydropower and its impact on climate change is contentious, with varying opinions among scholars. Others view it as a sustainable solution for a brighter, greener future by curbing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating climate change’s effects.
Conversely, opponents of hydropower argue that its environmental costs outweigh its potential benefits. The critics of this innovation believe it is unsustainable by pointing to the effects of climate change, including increased droughts and changes in precipitation patterns, which can directly impact hydropower generation, further complicating the issue.
Points of Agreement
One area that all the five articles reviewed agree on is that hydropower is renewable and contributes to less emission compared to traditional fossil fuels. Meng et al. (2020) and Almeida et al. (2019) indicate that the technology produces no direct GHG emissions, which lessens climate change and helps in mitigation efforts. In addition, other studies highlight other hydropower’s environmental benefits, including improving flood control, irrigation, and recreation opportunities (Wadsack & Acker, 2019; Wei et al., 2020).
In response to the critics of hydropower, Nautiyal and Goel (2020) argue that it is sustainable because most hydropower plants function as storage facilities with reservoirs containing large volumes of water, which means they can produce power even during droughts. This feature indicates that this technology is reliable, enabling it to serve as a consistent energy source while complementing solar and wind power.
Points of Disagreement
The main area of disagreement is that not all hydropower facilities reduce the emission of harmful gas into the atmosphere. According to Almeida et al. (2019), the carbon intensities of proposed dams vary widely based on the location where they are constructed. The authors indicate that the median GHG emission of upland dams is about 39 kilograms of Carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per megawatt-hour over a 100-year time frame. This is comparable to the emissions produced by solar and wind energy. On the other hand, the median GHG emission of lowland dams is about 133 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per megawatt-hour, which can be higher than the emissions produced by power plants that use fossil fuels.
Outliers
Meng et al.’s (2020) article may be an outlier source. All the other studies focus mainly on the effects of hydropower generation on climate change, the environment, and the sustainability of hydropower projects (Almeida et al., 2019; Wadsack & Acker, 2019; Wei et al., 2020; Nautiyal & Goel, 2020). However, Meng et al.’s study describes the contributions of hydropower to the global energy supply (2020). In addition, the authors extensively discuss the different impacts of 1.5 °C and two °C of global warming. Therefore, the article diverges from the information presented by other sources because it describes how different levels of global warming affect hydropower production, which in turn impacts its contribution to the world’s energy supply.
Influential Sources
Some chosen sources appear more impactful or influential than others based on the information provided. In this case, the article by Wei et al. (2020) analyzes the effect of precipitation on hydropower and creates a hydropower response model driven by rainfall. The study’s findings can offer insights into the future management of water resources.
Additionally, Wadsack & Acker’s article is powerful because it examines the reaction of power systems to climate change through efforts to lower GHG emissions and adaptive responses to the impacts of climate change (2019). Similarly, Almeida et al.’s (2019) study is powerful because it highlights that placing dams in higher elevations and smaller streams along the Amazon can lower the production of GHG. Although the studies by Nautiyal & Goel (2020) and Meng et al. (2020) also relate to hydropower, their information is more general.
Dubious Assertions
The source whose claims seem illogical or unsupported by facts is Almeida et al.’s (2019) study. The authors indicate that the carbon intensities of the proposed upland dams in the Amazon are more comparable with wind and solar energy. At the same time, the research also asserts that some lowland dams may surpass the carbon concentrations of fossil-fuel power plants. These claims contradict other studies emphasizing that hydropower has slightly fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels and that solar and wind energy have considerably lower GHG emissions than hydropower.
How Thinking About Hydropower Has Changed Over Time
All the sources indicate that there has been a significant evolution in thinking about hydropower. The ideology of hydropower has shifted from merely considering it as a vital renewable energy source to a more nuanced perspective that analyzes its social, environmental, and sustainability effects (Wei et al., 2020). The belief that hydropower is a wholly sustainable and low-carbon energy source has been disregarded and replaced by a more strategic and comprehensive approach to its development.
Conclusion
Hydropower is cleaner and more renewable than traditional fossil fuels. It can help reduce GHG emissions and mitigate the impact of global warming. However, power plants can cause considerable damage to the environment since they can cause the displacement of communities and destroy natural habitats. While challenges come with constructing hydropower plants, they offer the most reliable and sustainable source of energy production.
References
Almeida, R. M., Shi, Q., Gomes-Selman, J. M., Wu, X., Xue, Y., Angarita, H., Barros, N., Forsberg, B. R., García-Villacorta, R., Hamilton, S. K., Melack, J. M., Montoya, M., Perez, G., Sethi, S. A., Gomes, C. P., & Flecker, A. S. (2019). Reducing greenhouse gas emissions of Amazon hydropower with strategic dam planning. Nature Communications, 10(4281), 1-9. Web.
Meng, Y., Liu, J., Leduc, S., Mesfun, S., Kraxner, F., Mao, G., Qi, W., & Wang, Z. (2020). Hydropower production benefits more from 1.5 °C than 2 °C climate scenario. Water Resources Research, 56(5), 1-16. Web.
Nautiyal, H., & Goel, V. (2020). Sustainability assessment of hydropower projects. Journal of Cleaner Production, 265. Web.
Wadsack, K., & Acker, T. L. (2019). Corrigendum: Climate change and future power systems: The importance of energy storage in reduced-hydropower systems in the American Southwest. Clean Energy, 3(4), 241-250. Web.
Wei, L., Jiheng, L., Junhong, G., Zhe, B., Lingbo, F., & Baodeng, H. (2020). The effect of precipitation on hydropower generation capacity: A perspective of climate change. Frontiers in Earth Science, 8(268), 1-13. Web.