HydropowerHydropower is already one of the world's most important renewable energy sources and will become even more crucial in coming years. Although sometimes considered a clean energy, hydropower schemes create environmental risks, for example, by changing a river ecosystem downstream, emitting greenhouse gases or by affecting fish populations. According to the World Bank, hydropower could bring energy to 1.6 billion people worldwide currently lacking access to light and heat. As well as providing energy, some hydropower systems deliver additional benefits, for instance creating irrigation schemes and drought protection measures that can promote sustainable development. A balance must be struck between economic viability and environmental sustainability. The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology's proven expertise in areas of science such as environmental flows, lake ecology and water resources management can lead or contribute to investigations into the economic and environmental viability of potential hydropower developments in the UK and around the world.
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Examples of CEH ResearchCEH has undertaken a series of water resource analyses and produced tools to assess hydropower potential in the UK, Europe and Himalayan regions of Nepal and India. CEH research has also contributed to numerous hydropower projects and policy development around the world, for example supporting the development of environmental flow allocations in Tanzania and China, and coordinating the definition of guidelines on environmental flow releases from reservoirs as the UK contribution to the World Commission on Dams. Similarly, CEH has undertaken assessments for DfID on globally relevant water issues to support its policy on dams and water storage. CEH has also carried out work on the consequences of changes in reservoir levels for resident lake fish populations, specifically the rare schelly / whitefish Coregonus lavaretus. This work has included population assessments, monitoring and modelling. CEH Expertise
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