Researchers from Karlstad University, University of Gothenburg and Lund University have started a new research project with the aim of making hydropower more environmentally friendly. As climate change affects our watercourses, the researchers are looking for new ways to protect aquatic life and at the same time ensure reliable energy production.
The project takes on the difficult balancing act between generating hydroelectric power and protecting the environment. By combining different measures in different places according to a so-called portfolio concept, the researchers hope to reduce the environmental impact by focusing on an entire catchment area without losing the ability of hydropower to quickly adapt production to energy needs.
- By combining measures whose effects vary independently of each other, we can create a more stable system as a whole, both in terms of sustainable hydropower production and conservation of fish populations, says Johan Watz, project leader and docent in biology at Karlstad University.
The portfolio effect is a concept that may prove very useful in the transition to a greener hydropower industry. It is based on the principle of diversification, where different measures are combined to create a more stable and predictable whole. Just as a financial portfolio spreads risk by investing in a mix of different assets, the project uses a similar approach to manage the environmental impact of hydropower.
From research to practice
The results from the project will provide valuable insights for energy companies and authorities managing water resources. It is about finding methods that both protect our biological diversity and our ability to regulate energy production.
- We’re developing tools that can predict how future flow patterns can be used to generate both stable hydropower and functioning ecosystems, says Johan Watz.
National impact
The project, which is financed by the Swedish Energy Agency and carried out in collaboration with Vattenfall and the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland, builds on previous research from Karlstad University in applied fishing ecology and hydropower. The aim is to provide industry and authorities with tools to find effective and complementary methods to conserve biodiversity, and the results will be particularly valuable to the hydropower industry and authorities managing rivers and fish populations, as well as researchers in aquatic sciences and ecology.
