Generating electricity from water is regenerative. It takes place without a combustion process. Nevertheless, there are doubts as to whether hydroelectric power plants are climate-friendly and environmentally friendly, or whether they do not harm biodiversity and the climate.
Power generation without combustion
In hydropower plants, the turbines are driven by the natural force of flowing water from a river or reservoir or from a dam. As described in an earlier article in this series, these turbines drive a generator, which in turn produces electricity. The entire process takes place without a combustion process.
Harmful to biodiversity and climate?
Hydropower is undoubtedly a renewable energy source. But does that make it climate-friendly and environmentally friendly? Some scientists seem to agree: Hydropower plants harm biodiversity and produce greenhouse gas emissions, namely methane, by rotting stabilised sewage sludge(1). Nevertheless, hydropower plants have the highest efficiency of all power plant types, with an efficiency of up to 85 %(2). In terms of nature conservation, so-called fish ladders in hydropower plants allow fish to migrate upstream and downstream.
Norway is the seventh largest hydropower nation in the world and the largest in Europe.(3)
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