Energy Transitions Podcast: Has hydropower passed its heyday?
Pamela Largue
Posted on: 13 December 2022
As climate change impacts weather patterns, droughts and floods are becoming more commonplace impacting hydropower projects around the world.
As climate change impacts weather patterns, droughts and floods are becoming more commonplace impacting hydropower projects around the world. In the face of this, many naysayers are criticising the renewables resource citing a lack of sustainability and affordability.
However, according to Eddie Rich, CEO of the International Hydropower Association, more hydropower is the answer. Rich explains how this form of generation can supply flood and drought control, protect water supply and support irrigation.
Furthermore, pumped storage is one of the most important system balancing mechanisms available to us, a non-negotiable for a successful transition to renewables.
Rich also talks about how the industry has learned valuable lessons from past mistakes and is taking proactive steps to ensure future hydropower projects meet the highest sustainability standards.
"We need in the next 10,000 days, 1 million megawatts of installed capacity, that's 10 megawatts of new hydropower a day"
LISTEN NOW
Subscribe and listen to all episodes of the Energy Transitions Podcast
Previous podcast episodes:
Lessons from a Danish hydrogen pilot project
COP27 – From debate to delivery
Smart water at the heart of sustainable cities
More insights:
High stakes for hydropower’s future
Renewables + energy efficiency + demand response = the new transition equation
