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Rescuing responsible hydropower projects

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  • Ascher, William

Abstract

Given the still-growing use of coal and natural gas in generating electricity in many developing countries, it is necessary to put far more effort into promoting responsible large-scale hydropower projects. In contrast to hydro, solar and wind power face physical constraints that greatly limit their potential to replace fossil-fuel sources of power generation. Because designing hydro projects to reduce their socio-economic and environmental damage typically entails greater costs and/or lower capacity, subsidies are needed to increase the number of responsible, economically viable projects. Despite the past abuses, hydro offers low-carbon energy generation, low-cost power generation, and important potential for energy storage and peaking supply to supplement intermittent low-carbon sources such as wind and solar. The promotion of responsible hydropower requires greater awareness of the possibilities for responsible projects, greater overall climate funding, better provision for local participation and compensation, changes in the doctrines of additionality, and stronger institutions to identify, design, and broker these projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Ascher, William, 2021. "Rescuing responsible hydropower projects," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:150:y:2021:i:c:s030142152030803x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2020.112092
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bortoluzzi, Mirian & Furlan, Marcelo & dos Reis Neto, José Francisco, 2022. "Assessing the impact of hydropower projects in Brazil through data envelopment analysis and machine learning," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1316-1326.

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