ökostrom

Hydropower usage and green electricity
- a contradiction?

greenhydro
EAWAG Procedure for Green Electricity using Hydropower

International guidelines for Green Electricity using Hydropower
(under construction)

Worldwide Hydropower usage
Prospects & Risks
(under construction)

Renowned for producing a large power output at a relatively low price, Green Electricity is rated at a global level as being one of the most meritorious energy systems in ecological terms. No other renewable method of production can match its high efficiency and more importantly it’s low level of CO₂ emissions.

But, on the other hand hydropower plants are also responsible for sizeable disruptions to both local and regional river ecosystems and riverine landscapes.
In mountainous countries like Switzerland, where the technical and economic potential for harnessing hydropower resources has been largely exhausted, almost all large, free flowing rivers today are already affected either by water diversion and/ or by hydro peaking. Hence forging the arguments “for” or “against” the usage of hydropower plants for the production of Green Electricity.

Making matters clear that the production of “Green Power” using hydropower plants can only be realised when both global and local criteria are met.

The EAWAG has since developed a certification procedure with which a hydropower plant can then prove/ confirm it’s electricity production is actually environmentally safe. Certain Pilot Certifications using the Green hydro procedure have already been achieved with help from the VUE (Association for Environmentally Sound Electricity).

According to an independent review hydropower plants certified by the Green hydro procedure, and then given the official eco-label “nature made star”, belong to the most responsible green hydropower producers in the world today.

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