Downside to Hydropower

Many people think that because an energy source is renewal, that makes it 100% environmentally friendly. The problem with that idea is with the classic law of energy conservation. “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one state to another.” With a hydropower facility the energy that is produced at the turbines is transformed from the energy that is built up and stored in the reservoir. The amount of hydraulic head that is built up as the water level on the upstream of the dam increases is the source of renewable energy.

When a reservoir is built and filled with water the vegetation that is below the water surface is where the problem of greenhouse gas emission starts. Over time bio-matter that has accumulated on the bottom of the reservoir decomposes and methane and carbon dioxide are released. If the reservoir is deep enough the gases will be trapped by the water pressure. Once the water passes through the turbines and spillways in a hydropower facility, the gases are released to the environment. In a warmer climate more gases are produced and released into the environment. Tropic areas are a big concern due to the relatively warm annual temperatures. Areas like Greybull, Wyoming are less susceptible to the gases because of the cold temperatures.

The article found in Green Energy News explores this downside to hydropower facilities and the areas that are more susceptible to the problem. The URL for the article is: http://www.green-energy-news.com/arch/nrgs2007/20070077.html