Hydroelectricity is the "forgotten giant" of the fight against climate change
Updated
Fossil energy must perish
Temps de lecture : 4 minAnne Cagan Anne CaganTemps de lecture : 4 min Anne Cagan Anne CaganL’hydroélectricité est un allié de taille contre le réchauffement climatique. Son utilité est cependant très sous-estimée. Selon l’Agence Internationale de l’Energie, il est indispensable de développer fortement l’utilisation de l’énergie hydraulique pour atteindre les objectifs zéro-carbone d’ici 2050.Solar, wind ... When talking about renewable energies, these solutions are often featured.However, this is another type of energy, of which we speak much less, which contributes the most to generate clean electricity: hydraulic energy, operated by infrastructures type dams or power plants along the water.
"In 2020, hydraulic energy provided a sixth in world electricity.It makes it the most important low carbon energy source.It also produces more than all other renewable sources combined, "notes the International Energy Agency (AIE) in a report published on June 30 on the subject.Problem: the importance of this technology is completely underestimated."Hydraulic energy is the forgotten giant of green electricity.It must be placed at the center of our energy and climatic agendas if the countries want to achieve their zero carbon goal, "warns Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA, in a statement.
Hydraulic energy is the "forgotten giant" of green electricity, warns the IAI.
Source : Monjur Hasan / UnsplashHydraulic energy is an ally against the climate crisis
The International Energy Agency is concerned about seeing that the development of hydroelectric power plants is preparing to slow down significantly in the coming decade.If global hydroelectric power should increase by 17 % between 2021 and 2030 - notably thanks to the projects of China, India, Turkey and Ethiopia - its development will be much less marked than that it had recordedThe past decade."The growth expected in the coming decade will be 25 % lower than that hydroelectricity has recorded over the past ten years," warns the IAI.
This slowdown falls badly.Because this technology is a major ally in the fight against the climate crisis."Hydraulic energy has a strategic role in the transition to clean energies.Not only because it makes it possible to produce massive quantities of low-carbon electricity.But also because it offers unprecedented possibilities of storage and flexibility of use, "said the International Energy Agency.
Store the production of solar and wind
The development of renewable energies such as solar and wind poses many challenges, including that of their intermittent: at certain times of the day, the solar energy produced can exceed needs, and others (at night byexample), she cannot answer it.This is the same problem that arises with the wind (which does not blow all the time).It is therefore crucial to find effective ways to store the excess energy produced at times.Hydraulic storage is precisely a very effective way to store energy.This is done via a proven technique called "pumping - turbinage".The idea is to use the occasional energy surplus to raise the water in accumulation basins.When energy is requested again, it is possible to use this stored water can be turbines and produce it.
“Most hydroelectric power plants can adjust, up or down, their production much faster than nuclear power plants, charcoal or natural gas.They can therefore help integrate more solar and wind energy, whose production varies a lot depending on the time it does, the period of the day, and the seasons, "notes the IAIE.
Pharaonic dams in China
China has just inaugurated the Baithen dam, the second most powerful dam in the world, behind that of the three gorges, also located in China.Pharaonic construction almost 300 meters high, the new Baithen dam took ten years to be completed.The site has a power of 16 GW and should be able to feed 16 GW of hundreds of thousands of homes, specifies BFM.In France, hydraulic energy is also a source of strategic energy.This is the third source of electricity production and the first from renewable energies, specifies EDF on its site."Almost half of the potential for hydraulic energy worldwide is unexploited," said the International Energy Agency.
According to the IEA, by 2030, $ 127 billion should be used to modernize aging hydroelectric power plants, mainly in the United States and Europe.But according to the agency, it is more than double ($ 300 billion) that should be planned to upgrade all the infrastructures that need it in the world.
Accelerate the development of hydroelectricity
According to the IAI, these strong measures will need to put the sector back on the right track.The agency recommends in particular to give more economic visibility to the entities which develop these projects, by suitable for example, with them, purchase price over long periods.You will also have to be very vigilant about the environmental and societal impact of these projects which can be very important.The construction of monumental dams, in particular, has significant repercussions: whole areas are flooded, which forces human and animal populations to move, and upsets the local flora.
Accelerating the development of hydro sites already in project could increase the installed capacity by 2030 by 40 %, notes the IAI.To stay on the path of zero emission by 2050, however, it will be necessary to advance much faster in this area.According to the International Energy Agency, the hydroelectric capacity should increase twice as much as expected by 2030.
To protect it, you have to understand the environment
Signaler une erreur dans le texteShare the article
One photo credit: John Gibbons / Unsplash
The suite on video
Why are lunar eclipses so rare?
Sur le même thèmeThe Oppo Reno 6 and the Find X3 Pro on sale at Boulanger
sponsoLinky counter: Engie takes better account of individual consent
What potential for planes that fuel in used frying oil?
Big bitcoin minors want to make it more green, but it will not be easy
Floating sunscreen: why put photovoltaic panels on the water?
E.Leclerc Energies: The current may be cut on October 15 if you do not change supplier
Recevoir la newsletter SciencesWhat is the common point between space conquest, dinosaurs, the environment and health?Our Science section, of course.To not miss anything about the very real advances of human knowledge, subscribe to our newsletter.
Gérer mes newslettersTo read
The Oppo Reno 6 and the Find X3 Pro on sale at Boulanger
sponsoL'essentiel énergieHyundai's sweet dream of hydrogen cars comes up against technical obstacles
Green hydrogen: all about this strategic gas in climate struggle
So-called green, blue hydrogen actually emits a lot of greenhouse gases
What will the "artificial sun" prepare for China for 2020?
This card shows in real time the electricity consumption of Europe
Les derniers articles sciencessciences espace astronomieWe know the star that the James Webb telescope will observe first
28.01.2022 18:14
Hey there Mr. BlueWhy is the sky blue?
28.01.2022 17:02
sciences santéVaccination certificate, recovery: how to download your vaccination pass
28.01.2022 15:38
sciences environnement climatClimate change could also deprive us of coffee
28.01.2022 12:59
sciences espace aérospatiale conquête spatialeSpaceX plans to launch the equivalent of a space mission per week in 2022
28.01.2022 12:41
sciences espace astronomie marsMars water would have escaped more recently than expected
28.01.2022 11:19
sciences santé médecineA first patient receives a dose of Moderna's ARNM vaccine against HIV
28.01.2022 10:26
sciences espaceHow to find the thousands of meteorites buried in Antarctica?
28.01.2022 07:04
Des pilules par voie oralePaxlovid: efficiency, patients concerned… Everything about Pfizer's anti-Cavid pill
27.01.2022 17:23
sciences santéVaccination certificate: how to generate a new QR code?
27.01.2022 16:11
By chatlivecamsex
