Development of Small Versus Large Hydropower in Norway– Comparison of Environmental Impacts

Bakken, Tor Haakon; Sundt, Håkon; Ruud, Audun; Harby, Atle

doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2012.03.019

Cited by 80 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Multiple RoR hydropower projects in the same watershed may interact in additive, synergistic, or antagonistic ways to affect river ecosystems (e.g., increasing turbidity and decreasing invertebrate quality) (Santucci et al 2005) and salmonid populations (e.g., to alter or delay upstream fish migrations) (Larinier 2008;Lucas et al 2009). Some studies suggest that landscape-scale impacts per unit of energy may be greater for RoR hydropower dams than for large hydropower dams (Bakken et al 2012;Kibler and Tullos 2013), while others reach the opposite conclusion (Taylor 2010). However, these conclusions are limited because they have not explicitly considered whether impacts from multiple RoR dams accumulate in nonlinear ways (Larinier 2008).…”

Section: (3) Cumulative Impacts Of Multiple Ror Hydropower Projectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Run-of-River hydropower and salmonids: potential effects and perspective on future research

Gibeau

Connors

Palen

2017

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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Abstract:The spatial footprint of individual run-of-river (RoR) hydropower facilities is smaller than reservoir-storage hydroelectric projects and their impacts to aquatic ecosystems are often assumed to be negligible. However, these effects are poorly understood, especially for salmonids whose freshwater habitat often overlaps with RoR hydropower potential. Flow regulation for RoR hydropower is unique in how it influences the seasonality and magnitude of flow diversion and because low-head dams can be overtopped at high flows. Based on a review of the primary literature, we identified three pathways of effects by which RoR hydropower may influence salmonids: reduction of flow, presence of low-head dams impounding rivers, and anthropogenic flow fluctuations. We synthesized empirical evidence of effects of RoR hydropower on river ecosystems from 31 papers, of which only 10 explicitly considered salmonids. We identified key research gaps including impacts of extended low-flow periods, anthropogenic flow fluctuations, and cumulative effects of multiple RoR projects. Filling these gaps is necessary to help manage and conserve salmonid populations in the face of the growing global demand for small-scale hydropower.Résumé : L'empreinte spatiale individuelle des centrales hydroélectriques au fil de l'eau est moindre que celle des centrales hydroélectriques avec réservoirs de retenue et, en conséquence, leurs impacts sur les écosystèmes aquatiques sont souvent jugés négligeables. Par contre, leurs effets écologiques sont peu connus, particulièrement pour les salmonidés dont l'habitat en eau douce coïncide souvent avec le potentiel hydroélectrique des centrales au fil de l'eau. La régulation des eaux par les centrales au fil de l'eau se distingue par son influence sur la saisonnalité et l'ampleur de la déviation des eaux, et parce que les barrages de basse-chute peuvent être submergés lors des crues. À la lumière d'un examen des sources documentaires primaires, nous avons cerné trois voies principales par lesquelles la production d'électricité des centrales au fil de l'eau peut influencer les salmonidés, soit la réduction des débits, la présence de barrages de basse-chute sur les rivières et des fluctuations d'origine humaine des débits. Nous avons produit une synthèse des résultats empiriques de 31 études portant sur les effets de la production d'hydroélectricité des centrales au fil de l'eau sur les écosystèmes lentiques, dont seulement dix s'intéressaient explicitement aux salmonidés. Nous avons cerné d'importantes lacunes dans les connaissances actuelles, dont l'impact de périodes prolongées de faible débit, des fluctuations d'origine humaine des débits et des effets cumulatifs de plusieurs centrales au fil de l'eau. Il est nécessaire de combler ces lacunes pour soutenir la gestion et la conservation durables des populations de salmonidés dans un contexte de demande mondiale croissante pour la production d'hydroélectricité à petite échelle.

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Section: (3) Cumulative Impacts Of Multiple Ror Hydropower Projectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Run-of-River hydropower and salmonids: potential effects and perspective on future research

Gibeau

Connors

Palen

2017

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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“…A partir desses estudos, ficou demonstrado que os impactos acumulados por um conjunto de PCHs (por unidade de energia gerada) são similares ou superiores aos impactos provenientes das usinas hidrelétricas de maior porte (Ziv et al, 2012;Bakken et al, 2012;Kliber & Tullos, 2013).…”

Section: Impactos Referênciasunclassified

Examinando as contradições em torno das Pequenas Centrais Hidrelétricas como fontes sustentáveis de energia no Brasil

Latini

Pedlowski

2016

Desenvolv. Meio Ambiente

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Artigo recebido em 12 de agosto de 2015, versão final aceita em 20 de abril de 2016. RESUMO:As Pequenas Centrais Hidrelétricas (PCHs) vêm ganhando destaque nos esforços voltados para a expansão da oferta de energia elétrica em âmbito mundial. Tal fato se deve à ideia de que essas plantas de geração de energia, por seu menor porte, causariam impactos ambientais insignificantes, quando comparadas com grandes usinas hidrelétricas. Em função disso, o Brasil tem flexibilizado as normas ambientais e concedido incentivos financeiros com o objetivo de facilitar e agilizar a implantação de PCHs no país. Além disso, programas governamentais, como o PROINFA e o "Luz para Todos", também podem ter contribuído para a expansão desse tipo de empreendimento nos últimos anos. Apesar da imagem limpa e dos incentivos concedidos, diferentes pesquisas científicas têm demonstrado evidências de que as PCHs, mesmo com seu menor porte, alteram as características hidrológicas dos ecossistemas aquáticos e causam impactos à biota em níveis individual, populacional e de comunidades. Em adição, já existem evidências de que alguns impactos ambientais acarretados por um conjunto de PCHs podem ser maiores do que os impactos causados por usinas hidrelétricas de grande porte. Portanto, não existem motivos para facilitar e agilizar os processos de aprovação e implementação de PCHs. O presente artigo aponta que as estratégias utilizadas para acelerar a implantação de PCHs contribuem para fragilizar os instrumentos de controle ambiental adotados no Brasil e para disseminar a percepção de que esses instrumentos são entraves ao desenvolvimento econômico, colocando, assim, a questão ambiental em patamares inferiores nas decisões tomadas no setor elétrico. O artigo postula, ainda, que as PCHs, como qualquer outro empreendimento potencialmente poluidor, devem ser alvo de uma avaliação socioambiental criteriosa, que possa subsidiar o processo decisório sobre as alternativas para a expansão da oferta de energia elétrica no Brasil.Palavras-chave: PCH; impactos ambientais; incentivos governamentais.

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“…Therefore predicting the power production of a small hydropower system is a non-linear and multi-factor complicated problem. Due to the less value of the installed capacity in a single plant, it is hard to predict its power production along with strong uncertainty and fluctuation [4]. Besides, the important of predicting the production output in a small hydropower plant is to maintain its sustainability development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This kind of small hydropower development has the least environmental impact and is generally less capital intensive than typical hydropower plants built in conjunction with high dams and large amounts of water storage [1]. Besides, small hydropower system is one of the significant renewable energy alternatives that have been greatly developed in the past few decades due to its small scale, lower investment, and the promotion of local economic development especially for rural application in generating electricity [2][3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction of available power being generate in small hydropower system at Sungai Perting Bentong Pahang

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Tremendous studied had been conducted on small hydropower system based on run-of-river schemes as an alternative renewable energy. Small hydropower system can be classified based on electricity generated between 1MW to 10MW. This system is normally being applied in rural area for providing the consumer electricity demand. Basically the researches to date are more focusing on the large scale of hydropower rather than the small scale hydropower technology. Therefore, this study is aimed to focus on predicting the available power generated by the small hydropower system specifically for the river stream in peninsular Malaysia. The water flow rate is measured by using ultrasonic level sensor located at the intake of the small hydropower system. The water flow rate is important data to be used in predicting the power output of the power house. The result shows that, the power outputs are depending on the fluctuation of water flow rate and the electricity being generated is more than 1MW. This finding can be used as the benchmark for daily and monthly monitoring process of the system efficiency or target output.

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Development of Small Versus Large Hydropower in Norway– Comparison of Environmental Impacts

Cited by 80 publications

References 5 publications

Run-of-River hydropower and salmonids: potential effects and perspective on future research

Run-of-River hydropower and salmonids: potential effects and perspective on future research

Examinando as contradições em torno das Pequenas Centrais Hidrelétricas como fontes sustentáveis de energia no Brasil

Prediction of available power being generate in small hydropower system at Sungai Perting Bentong Pahang

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