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The Role of Large and Small Scale Hydropower for Energy and Water Security in the Spanish Duero Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Beatriz Mayor

    (Geodynamics Department, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain/TNT Department, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, 2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Ignacio Rodríguez-Muñoz

    (Water Planning Department, Duero Basin Authority (Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero), Valladolid 47004, Spain)

  • Fermín Villarroya

    (Geodynamics Department, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain)

  • Esperanza Montero

    (Geodynamics Department, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain)

  • Elena López-Gunn

    (ICatalist, Calle Borni 20, Madrid 28232, Spain/University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

Abstract

Hydropower has been increasingly seen as a two-fold solution to the provision of renewable energy and water storage. However, the massive deployment of both large and small scale hydropower projects has been reported to cause important environmental impacts at the basin scale. This study assesses the differential contributions to regional energy and water security of large (LHP) and small (SHP) scale hydropower deployment in the Spanish Duero basin, as well as associated cumulative environmental impacts. This is performed through a selection of indicators measured in absolute and relative terms. The results suggest that LHP deployment contributes more to energy and water security, performing better in 10 of the 12 indicators. It also shows higher absolute environmental impacts on flow regime and habitat loss. Meanwhile, when analyzed in relative terms, SHP shows greater impacts in all categories as a result of cumulative effects cascading along the rivers system. These findings suggest that optimizing the use of existing hydropower infrastructure would be beneficial for energy, water and environmental security. This could be implemented by substantially reducing the number of low capacity plants with almost no impact on final energy generation, while enhancing the pumping and storage potential of higher capacity plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatriz Mayor & Ignacio Rodríguez-Muñoz & Fermín Villarroya & Esperanza Montero & Elena López-Gunn, 2017. "The Role of Large and Small Scale Hydropower for Energy and Water Security in the Spanish Duero Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:10:p:1807-:d:114237
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