Environmental Aspects of Implementation of Micro Hydro Power Plants – A Short Review

Abstract

The economic importance of micro hydro power plants is obvious around the world and the development trend will continue well into the future.Unfortunately the effects on the local lotic systems habitats and biocoenosis are not studied, and in some cases or are known only to a small degree.A variety of taxa were identified in the study case areas as being significantly affected by the micro hydro power plants: macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish.ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Mikrohydrozentralen -ein wirtschaftliches und oekologisches Problem.Die wirtschaftliche Bedeutung der Mikrohydrozentralen ist weltweit augenscheinlich und ihre Entwicklungstendenz wird sich sicherlich auch in Zukunft fortsetzen.Leider sind ihre Auswirkungen auf die lotischen Habitate und Biocoenosen fallweise nicht untersucht worden oder sind lediglich graduell unterschiedlich bekannt.Zu der grossen Vielfalt taxonomischer Gruppen, die von den Mikrohydrozentarlen in den Bereichen der Fallstudien als erheblich betroffen eingestuft wurden, gehoeren die Makrophyten, Makrinvertebraten und Fische.REZUMAT: Microhidrocentralele -o problemă economică şi ecologică. Importanţa economică a microhidrocentralelor este evidentă în toată lumea iar tendinţa de dezvoltare a acestora va continua cu certitudine în viitor.Din păcate, efectele acestora asupra habitatelor şi biocenozelor sistemelor lotice nu sunt studiate în unele cazuri sau sunt cunoscute în diferite grade.O varietate ridicată de grupe taxonomice au fost identificate în aria studiilor de caz ca fiind afectate semnificativ de microhidrocentrale: macrofite, macronevertebrate, peşti.

Multi-Interacting Natural and Anthropogenic Stressors on Freshwater Ecosystems: Their Current Status and Future Prospects for 21st Century

“…Even though the existing and planned hydropower plants have received criticism for unprecedented negative impacts on the downstream riverine environments [209][210][211][212], the irreplaceable social value of these types of infrastructure [213] in conjunction with modern and holistic environmental modeling approaches [214] can offer benefits to the aquatic, riverine restoration and maintenance.…”

Freshwater as a Sustainable Resource and Generator of Secondary Resources in the 21st Century: Stressors, Threats, Risks, Management and Protection Strategies, and Conservation Approaches

“…); land conversion; overharvesting and overexploitation; introduction of exotic species; release of pollutants into the water, land, and air; climate change, etc. [ 86 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 ]. These are still a largely unquantified threat [ 135 ].…”

Hydraulic and environmental impacts of small hydropower projects mitigation strategies and regulatory frameworks

“…Yet, the optimal utilization of SHPs necessitates a meticulous assessment of their potential consequences. This research endeavors to provide a comprehensive evaluation, taking into account the intricate interplay between the hydraulic alterations caused by SHPs and their environmental implications (Curtean-Bănăduc A, 2015) [4] . This study aims to contribute to the body of knowledge concerning SHPs in Mexico by providing an extensive analysis of their hydraulic and environmental impacts.…”