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24 setembro 2024, 16:19 • Helena Margarida Machado da Silva Ramos

Hydropower, otherwise known as hydroelectric power, offers several advantages to the communities they serve. Hydropower and pumped storage play a crucial role in our fight against climate change by providing essential power, storage, and flexibility services and integrating intermitten renewable sources (e.g., son and wind). Following are some benefits that hydropower can provide in energy transition to 100% clean electricity by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

• Hydropower is a renewable source of energy. The energy generated through hydropower relies on the water cycle, which is driven by the sun, making it renewable.
• Hydropower is feed by water, making it a clean source of energy.
• Hydroelectric power is a domestic source of energy, allowing each state to produce its own energy without being reliant on international fuel sources.
• Impoundment hydropower creates reservoirs that offer several opportunities. 
• Hydroelectric power is flexible. Some hydropower facilities can quickly go from zero power to maximum output in few seconds. Because hydropower plants can generate power to the grid immediately, they provide essential backup power during major electricity outages or disruptions.
• Hydropower provides benefits beyond electricity generation by providing flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water.
• Hydropower is affordable. 
• Hydropower provides low-cost electricity and durability over time compared to other sources of energy. Construction costs can even be mitigated by using preexisting structures such as dams, bridges, tunnels, pipes, and channels.
• Hydropower complements other renewable energy sources. Technologies like pumped storage hydropower (PSH) store energy to use in tandem with renewables such as wind and solar power when demand is high.