Hydroelectric Power: A Renewable and Clean Source of Energy

1
Hydroelectric Power A Renewable and Clean Source
of Energy
Pierre Fortin, Executive Director Canadian
Hydropower Association
2
The Context

• World electricity consumption to increase by 76
  by 2020
• Electricity demand in Canada to increase 1.8 per
  year over the coming decades
• According to NEB, fossil fuel-generated
  electricity is likely to remain prominent

3
The Challenge

• How to meet growing demand without increasing GHG
  emissions and destroying our environment?

4
Energy Conservation

• In developing countries, conservation cannot meet
  growing demand
• In rich countries such as Canada and the United
  States, conservation can make an important
  contribution
• But even in the most optimistic scenario, there
  still would be a lot of fossil fuel-generated
  electricity

5
Emerging Renewables

• Wind and solar are very promising energies
• Intermittent need back up energy source
• Reliable for yearly energy but not for capacity
• Still relatively expensive

6
Advantages of Hydropower

• Hydro is renewable
• Hydro generates few GHG and no other air
  pollutants
• Hydro is efficient, reliable, and flexible
• Hydro can provide base load and peak
• Hydro can displace fossil fuel-generated
  electricity

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Advantages of Hydropower

• Storage hydropower is the best source to support
  intermittent sources such as wind and solar
• Hydropower can compensate for windpower
  fluctuations
• New large hydropower could offer a competitive
  edge to emerging renewables

8
Hydropower and the Environment

• All electricity production has an impact on the
  environment
• Hydro project development has local impacts and
  global benefits

9
Best Practices

• Over the past 30 years, the industry has adopted
  many measures to improve its practices
• Consultations with local populations often
  leading to signed agreements and partnerships
• Socio-economic studies beforehand
• Mitigation and environmental enhancement measures

10
Technical Advances

• The industry continues research into reducing
  impacts
• Fish-friendly turbines
• Fish ladders, screens
• Improved design to reduce flooding
• Etc.

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Challenges to Hydro Development

• Environmental legislation (CEEA, CFA)
• Costs associated with hydroelectric development
  vs. fossil fuel plant construction
• Time required to build a hydro project

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Consequence

• Reliance on fossil fuels likely to continue

13
The Green Solution

• Energy conservation
• Emerging renewables
• Hydropower development (large and small)

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Hydropower Clean, Green and Renewable