Africa is planning several hydroelectric power plants. According to a new study, energy could be produced in a more environmentally friendly way.
Hydropower is considered a green energy source. For hydroelectric power plants, however, massive environmental interventions are usually carried out in the form of reservoirs and dams. Depending on the size of the construction project, entire valleys can disappear, including flora and fauna.
Reservoirs on rivers can also do this Ecosystem strongly influence and, if poorly planned, promote flooding due to river course adjustments. A research group at the Polytechnic of Milan has therefore investigated whether there are alternatives to hydroelectric power plants that use sustainable energy sources.
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Photovoltaics instead of reservoirs
This is what you have to do Africa viewed. Specially planned reservoirs, dams and hydroelectric power plants on the river Zambezi analyzed. Accordingly, the money could be used for these construction projects floating solar systems invest. If they are placed on existing water surfaces, they could 20 to 100 percent of the electricity that the new hydroelectric power plants would have produced.
Apart from the structural interventions in the environment that are no longer necessary, these solar systems would cost 12 percent annually less fluctuation in electricity production. Due to climate change and the associated longer periods of droughtphotovoltaics is also a more reliable energy source than hydropower in the long term.
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Advantages outweigh the disadvantages
The research team assumes that these calculations apply to all of Africa. They admit that floating solar systems have a negative impact on certain bodies of water Fisheries and tourism can have. But the advantages would outweigh the disadvantages. As they point out, dams and reservoirs often have far-reaching effects downstream. These not only affect the environment, but also agriculture and the economy.
Other studies see another advantage of floating solar systems. In summer they reduce it evaporation of the water. Such systems would therefore be particularly suitable in existing reservoirs. The infrastructure is already nearby due to the hydroelectric power plants and when the reservoirs are well filled, the reserves for generating electricity from hydropower are secured.
