Hydroelectric

Many new opportunities have been created by the zero-carbon energy zones, where thousands of dams have been designed, or are under construction across various geographical locations. The power generated by these structures provides one of the largest sources of green electricity. These structures store river water, and as the pressure increases on the release of water that reaches the turbine, it causes the generators to revolve. The turbine and generators move by the pressure created by natural flowing water. This is the most traditional source and the process behind it includes huge brick constructions that block large volumes of water flowing down the rivers to create small reservoirs. 

Over 3,500 dams have been planned or built, and this number could double by 2030. The highest number of such constructions has been made in Brazil, and China produces maximum power through such projects.  Since 1990, the World Bank supported hydro-projects but under the pressure of environmentalists in 1993, it withdrew funding towards multi-million projects along the Narmada river in India. The World Bank is seeking well-managed projects, in terms of, impact on the surrounding ecosystem and human population to support it.  

Hydro offers one of the safest sources due to the sheer abundance of water where power is produced almost ‘on demand’ and there are some agricultural benefits like it restricts floods. Sustainable construction requires a lot of time where assessment and resettlement of local communities are the main issues. However, globally such projects are multiplying and many such constructions continue to create a negative impact like reduction in fish population and impoverishment caused by low support for the resettlement of the local population. With the advancements and increasing acceptability of other green options, the demand for hydro remains restricted to certain geographical spheres.