Dr. Lars Schernikau (www.unpopular-truth.com/blog)

When we think of clean energy, hydropower often sits at the top of the list. After all, it’s renewable, seemingly reliable, and emits no direct greenhouse gases during operation. But as with anything in life and in energy… the devil’s in the details. It turns out that hydropower’s reputation as the ultimate clean energy source might be more myth than reality…

I recently wrote a blog post on hydropower that sheds light on some unpopular truths… the kind of truths you won’t hear about in sustainability pitches or clean energy PR campaigns.

Is Hydropower Nature’s “Frenemy”?

At first glance, harnessing the power of flowing water sounds perfect. No burning fossil fuels, no air pollution, just a steady stream of clean energy. But here’s the twist: large-scale hydropower projects often wreak havoc on ecosystems. Damming rivers disrupts natural water flows, affects fish migration, and leads to the flooding of vast areas, sometimes displacing entire communities. The environmental toll doesn’t end with construction… but it continues for decades.

And let’s not forget about GHGs like methane…the potent greenhouse gas that’s believed to be 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO₂. How does GHGs come into play? When vegetation and organic matter decompose in the stagnant waters of reservoirs, they emit GHGs like methane. Isn’t that a far cry from the squeaky clean image we’ve been sold?

Reliability Isn’t Always Reliable

We like to think of hydropower as dependable, but generation depends on water availability, which in turn depends on weather patterns. Some countries that heavily rely on hydropower are finding themselves scrambling for backup energy sources during dry seasons.

Here’s the irony: in a world increasingly affected by changing weather patterns, hydropower’s reliability diminishes. That’s not the kind of limitations we would expect for our energy future…now is it?

The Unpopular Truth About “Clean” Energy

In my detailed article on Hydropower I make one thing clear: no energy source is perfect. Every option comes with trade-offs, and hydropower is no exception. What we need is an honest conversation about those trade-offs instead of the promises of a net-zero utopia.

Hydropower has a role to play, but we should approach it with eyes wide open, acknowledging its limitations and environmental impact.

So, where does that leave us? Should we be rethink what we call “clean.” Is hydropower really as sustainable as we want it to be?

What do you think about hydropower? clean energy saviour or overhyped disruptor? I would like to hear your feedback.

Full article here: The “Unpopular Truth” about Hydro Power

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