The Future of Hydroelectric Power

The theoretical size of the worldwide hydropower is about four times greater than that which has been exploited at this time. The actual amount of electricity which will ever be generated by hydropower will be much less than the theoretical potential. This is due to the environmental con­cerns outlined above, and economic constraints. Much of the remaining hydro potential in the world exists in the developing countries of Africa and Asia. Harnessing this resource would require billions of dollars, be­cause hydroelectric facilities generally have very high construction costs. In the past, the World Bank has spent billions of foreign aid dollars on huge hydroelectric projects in the third world. Opposition to hydropow­er from environmentalists and native people, as well as new environ-J mental assessments at the World Bank will restrict the amount of money spent on hydroelectric power construction in the developing countries of the world.

In North America and Europe, a large percentage of hydropower potential has already been developed. Public opposition to large hy­dro schemes will probably result in very little new development of big dams and reservoirs. Small scale and low head hydro capacity will' probably increase in the future as research on low head turbines, and standardized turbine production, lowers the costs of hydroelectric power at sites with low heads. New computerized control systems and improved turbines may allow more electricity to be generated from existing facilities in the future. As well, many small hydroelec-¹ trie sites were abandoned in the 1950's and 60's when the price of oil and coal was very low, and their environmental impacts unrealized. Increased fuel prices in the future could result in these facilities be-1 ing refurbished.

Conclusions

Hydroelectric power has always been an important part of the world's electricity supply, providing reliable, cost-effective electricity, and will continue to do so in the future. Hydropower has environmental im­pacts which are very different from those of fossil fuel power plants. The actual effects of dams and reservoirs on various ecosystems are only now becoming understood. The future of hydroelectric power will depend upon future demand for electricity, as well as how societies value the environmental impacts of hydroelectric power compared to the impacts of other sources of electricity.

Vocabulary

silt ил, наносы

to deprive of лишать, отнимать

hazard опасность

to threaten угрожать

to assess оценивать

to result in приводить к

to refurbish подновлять, освежать

environmental impacts воздействие на окружающую среду

to weigh взвешивать

pollutant загрязняющий агент

to submerge погружать под воду, за­топлять

to decay разрушаться, разлагаться

flooding затопление

EXERCISES

1. Guess the meaning of the following international words:

hydro atmospheric minimum alternative radioactive theoretical standard equivalent potential	bacteria accumulate project
2. Find in the text the antonyms to the following words:
a) dangerous c) tiny e) b) last d) maximum	missing

³- Give the Russian equivalents to the following English word combinations from the text:

— hydroelectric power plants — greenhouse gases

- standard atmospheric pollutants - hydroelectric facilities "■ fossil fuel fired power plants - high water periods

36

Section I. Power Engineering

Unit 5. Hydropower. Impacts 37

- health hazard - low head turbines

— hydroelectric power construction