550 hydropower plants give the Alps 2,900 GWh of annual output but ecologists warn of river damage

The highest and youngest mountain range in Europe is the Alps. It is well-known for housing unique wildlife, boasting a biodiversity of more than 30,000 species of animals and plants. More than 120 million visitors are attracted to the Alps annually, but now, it will be famous for something else. The hidden water power of the Alps has been uncovered, unleashing 2,900 GWh of annual output. This hidden power is celebrated by many, but it is also no stranger to widespread criticism. Are the results truly worth it?

Powering the Alps with renewable energy sources

The entire world has been turning to renewable energy sources as alternatives to burning fossil fuels for power production. This approach is part of a greater global goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050 in an attempt to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Alps region, which stretches across France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria, must adhere to this global mission, as these European countries have all agreed to the Paris Agreement.

Powering the Alps with renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, is arguably advantageous to the region. The Alps are highly at risk for climate change due to the unique biodiversity and sensitive ecosystems, which is why renewable energy sources are vital to protect the environment. According to EUREC, powering the Alps with renewables also includes these advantages:

• Energy poverty
  • The dense population has a high power consumption, and renewables will help address this energy poverty and improve local community well-being
• Renewable energy abundance
  • The Alps are rich in natural resources for renewable energy
• Infrastructure development
  • Expanding renewable energy infrastructure can close energy gaps and help lower fossil fuels and nuclear power reliance

Uncovering the hidden water power of the Alps

Italy is one of the countries that is significantly reliant on the Alps’ hydropower. According to Enel Green Power, two of Italy’s noteworthy hydroplants include:

According to the Alpine Convention, the Alps have approximately 550 hydropower plants with over 10 MW and an annual output of 2,900 GWh. It may not be as big as China’s unveiled Impulse Project, but it is still significant.

Not everyone is in favour of this power solution

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, these hydropower plants are disadvantageous for these reasons:

• Impacts ecological integrity of Alpine rivers and lakes
• Widespread diversion of rivers and streams and reservoir construction destroy natural habitats
• Interrupts migration passageways
• Causes flooding which decrease benthos biomass
• Not all hydropower is clean, as they utilize cheap coal or nuclear power to pump water to reservoirs

• Energy should be saved for the long term instead of producing additional kWhs
• Current plants should be upgraded and redundant ones removed before constructing new ones
• Protection of the last freshwater pearls by not using intact rivers, river sections, and mountain streams
• Small hydropower should only be used locally in remote areas
• Hydropower usage knowledge and cooperation must be expanded

Hydropower plays a crucial role in providing sustainable, clean energy to European regions, and will significantly lower the global carbon footprint. Water could be ‘the new green’. However, as with any renewable energy production project, careful management, maintenance, research and transparency is necessary to ensure that the surrounding ecosystems and communities do not suffer unnecessarily without cause. America will also be turning its water into energy in a futuristic way.