Hydropower

Operation challenges for fast-growing China's hydropower systems and respondence to energy saving and emission reduction

by K.W. Chau

Chuntian Cheng, Xinyu Wu, and Kwok-wing Chau, Jianjian Shen, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 16 (5): 2386-2393 2012

During the past two decades, in particular the past decade, there has been a rapid rate of development of hydropower... more During the past two decades, in particular the past decade, there has been a rapid rate of development of hydropower in China. It is foreseeable that the same rate of development will be maintained in the next decade. The total installed generation capacity of hydropower in China has now surpassed 200GW and ranks first in the world. The unprecedented rate of expansion, development scale, emergence of large number of hydro plants with high head and huge capacity, and electric power transmission have led to significant changes in management and operation of large-scale hydropower systems which have become one of significant factors in constraining the security and economic operation of power grid in China. This article gives an overview of the China’s hydropower, analyzes the new challenges that it faces, highlights the key scientific and technological issues that need to be solved, and pinpoints that the solution of these problems will be the key to the realization of energy saving and emission reduction by China in 2020.

Contested Mekong Waterscapes: Where to next?

by Francois Molle

The Canadian feasibility study of the Three Gorges Dam proposed for China's Yangzi River: A grave embarrassment to the impact assessment profession.

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 1994.  The Canadian feasibility study of the Three Gorges Dam proposed for China's Yangzi River: A grave embarrassment to the impact assessment profession. Impact Assessment 12(1): 21-57.

Earlier version:
Fearnside, P.M. 1993.  Resettlement Plans for China's Three Gorges Dam. pp. 34-58, 171-173 In: M. Barber and G. Ryder (eds.) Damming the Three Gorges, Second Edition. Probe International/ Earthscan, Toronto, Canada. 183 pp.
http://www.threegorgesprobe.org/pi/documents/three_gorges/Damming3G/ch03.html

A Usina Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte em pauta

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2011. A Usina Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte em pauta. Política Ambiental. No. 7, pp. 4-20. ISSN 1809-8185. [http://www.conservation.org.br/publicacoes/index.php?t=5]

Emissões: Os impactos mais renegados das hidrelétricas.

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2011. Emissões: Os impactos mais renegados das hidrelétricas. Contra Corrente, No. 3: 27-30.

Belo Monte: Resposta a Rogério Cezar de Cerqueira Leite

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2010. Belo Monte: Resposta a Rogério Cezar de Cerqueira Leite. Site Globoamazonia 07/06/10 http://colunas.globoamazonia.com/philipfearnside/

See Amazon Controversies:
http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/AMAZONIAN CONTROVERSIES.htm

Belo Monte: Resposta a Rogério Cezar de Cerqueira Leite

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2010. Belo Monte: Resposta a Rogério Cezar de Cerqueira Leite. Site Globoamazonia 07/06/10 http://colunas.globoamazonia.com/philipfearnside/

See Amazon Controversies:
http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/AMAZONIAN CONTROVERSIES.htm

Má Fé em Belo Monte?

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2010. Má Fé em Belo Monte? O Estado de São Paulo 20/04/10 [comentário on line] http://cadastro.estadao.com.br/comentarios?guid=37DEA1D617294CC784FC49E133500D9C&editoria=Economia&produto=economia&titulo_pg=Justi%C3%A7a%20cassa%20liminar%20e%20libera%20leil%C3%A3o%20de%20Belo%20Monte&url_pg=http://economia.estadao.com.br/noticias/empresas-e-negocios,justica-cassa-liminar-e-libera-leilao-de-belo-monte--diz-agu,not_14556.htm

Impacto ambiental [das hidrelétricas do rio Madeira]

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2007. Impacto ambiental [das hidrelétricas do rio Madeira] Folha de São Paulo Online 21/02/2007 (carta) http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/paineldoleitor/ult3751u282.shtml

Belo Monte: Globo Amazônia série completa

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2009-2010. Belo Monte: Globo Amazônia série completa. http://colunas.globoamazonia.com/philipfearnside/

Gases estufa e radiação [Response to W. Alexandre].

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2005. Gases estufa e radiação [Response to W. Alexandre]. Ciência Hoje 36(213): 80.

Dirty hydros [Response to Graham Faichney]

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2005. Dirty hydros [Response to Graham Faichney] New Scientist 186(2494): 24 (9 April 2005).

Why hydropower is not clean energy

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2007. Why hydropower is not clean energy. Scitizen, Paris, France (peer-reviewed website). http://www.scitizen.com/screens/blogPage/viewBlog/sw_viewBlog.php?idTheme=14&idContribution=298

See Amazon Controversies:
http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/AMAZONIAN CONTROVERSIES.htm

Versão em Português:
Fearnside, P.M. 2008. Controvérsias sobre o efeito estufa. Por que a energia hidrelétrica não é limpa. pp. 270-271 In: I. S. Gorayeb (ed.). Amazônia. Jornal "O Liberal"/VALE, Belém, Pará. 384 pp. ISBN 978-85-61628-00-0 [também publicado no jornal O Liberal 30 Jan. 2008].
http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/2008/Hidro nao eneergia limpa-livro Amazônia 1.pdf

Pareceres dos consultores sobre o Estudo de Impacto Ambiental do Projeto para aproveitamento hidrelétrica de Santo Antônio e Jirau, Rio Madeira-RO. Parecer Técnico sobre ecossistemas. Parte B, Volume 1, Parecer 8

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2006. Pareceres dos consultores sobre o Estudo de Impacto Ambiental do Projeto para aproveitamento hidrelétrica de Santo Antônio e Jirau, Rio Madeira-RO. Parecer Técnico sobre ecossistemas. Parte B, Volume 1, Parecer 8, pp. 1-15 In: Pareceres Técnicos dos Especialistas Setoriais—Aspectos Físicos/Bióticos. Relatório de Análise do Conteúdo dos Estudos de Impacto Ambiental (EIA) e do Relatório de Impacto Ambiental (RIMA) dos Aproveitamentos Hidrelétricos de Santo Antônio e Jirau no, Rio Madeira, Estado de Rondônia. Ministério Público do Estado de Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia. 2 Vols. http://www.mp.ro.gov.br/web/guest/Interesse-Publico/Hidreletrica-Madeira

Dirty hydros [Response to Graham Faichney]

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2005. Dirty hydros [Response to Graham Faichney] New Scientist 186(2494): 24 (9 April 2005).

Controvérsias sobre o efeito estufa. Por que a energia hidrelétrica não é limpa.

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2008. Controvérsias sobre o efeito estufa. Por que a energia hidrelétrica não é limpa. pp. 270-271 In: I. S. Gorayeb (ed.). Amazônia. Jornal "O Liberal"/VALE, Belém, Pará. 384 pp. ISBN 978-85-61628-00-0 [também publicado no jornal O Liberal 30 Jan. 2008].

See Amazon Controversies:
http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/AMAZONIAN CONTROVERSIES.htm

English version:
Fearnside, P.M. 2007. Why hydropower is not clean energy. Scitizen, Paris, France (peer-reviewed website). http://www.scitizen.com/screens/blogPage/viewBlog/sw_viewBlog.php?idTheme=14&idContribution=298
http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/2007/Why hydro not clean energy-Article as posted.pdf

Impactos de presas hidroeléctricas en la Amazonía

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2009. Impactos de presas hidroeléctricas en la Amazonía. In: Memoria "Evaluación de Impactos Ambientales de grandes hidroeléctricas en regiones tropicales: El caso del río Madera" 19 y 20 de Maio de 2009, WWF‐Bolivia, La Paz, Bolívia (CD-ROM)..

Methane emissions from hydroelectric dams

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2011. Methane emissions from hydroelectric dams. Science (E-Letter 28 July 2011), http://www.sciencemag.org/content/331/6013/50.short/reply#sci_el_14254

Opening the Lancang (Mekong) River in Yunnan: Problems and Prospects for Xishuangbanna

by Lex Berman

M.A. Thesis [UMASS-Amherst] 1998
Asian Languages & Geoscience
includes research bibiography

Regional cooperation to develop the Lancang (Mekong) River in China and five neighboring states of mainland Southeast... more Regional cooperation to develop the Lancang (Mekong) River in China and five neighboring states of mainland Southeast Asia has swept the Chinese border region of Xishuangbanna Prefecture into a period of rapid change. Once an isolated region of lush tropical rain forest, Xishuangbanna will face increasing pressures of land, water, and air traffic; industrialization; urbanization; and subsequently risks of pollution, deforestation and environmental degradation. This study examines the plans for future development, the existing infrastructure, and the use of the river by the local residents, in order to identify the areas of greatest contact and possible conflict that will result from the opening of this international shipping corridor.

Small scale hydropower; a methodology to estimate Europe's environmentally compatible potential (2010)

by David Owain Clubb

Project manager

The objective of this study is to outline a ‘roadmap’ for the development of a methodology for estimating the Small... more The objective of this study is to outline a ‘roadmap’ for the development of a methodology for estimating the Small Scale Hydropower (SHP) technical and environmentally compatible potential SHP for the European Union plus the five other European countries which fall within the EEA’s remit.

The main data source for this development is the EEA’s European Catchments and RIvers Network System (ECRINS) suite of Microsoft Access geo-databases.