Rivers without Boundaries

Hydropower no longer produces cheaper energy than solar and wind, IRENA said.

We always hear from hydropower industry, that energy of water is the cheapest to produce among all low-carbon generation technologies. However, from now on this would be a false statement. Recently we reported that, according to International Renewable Energy Agency   hydropower installed in 2021 constituted less than 8% of all …

Makhoul Dam in Iraq is threatening two World Heritage properties in one shot

The revived project of a mega-dam on Tigris river threatens to drown Ashur Historic heritage site upstream and to cause major damage to Mesopotamia Marshes nature heritage site downstream. Two river-protection NGOs prepared a report pointing to risks and suggesting alternatives. The Iraqi government is intensifying its efforts to complete …

Hydropower installed in 2021 around the world, revisited

HYDRO-NO LONGER THE ENGINE FOR ENERGY TRANSITION Source: https://www.irena.org/publications/2022/Apr/Renewable-Capacity-Statistics-2022. Graph by RwB. In April IRENA issued new Renewable Capacity Statistics: Hydropower net additions (without pumped storage) are preliminarily assessed in 2021 as 18.9 GW, which is only 7% of global growth in renewables estimated as 257 GW (roughly the same …

Chinese State-owned SDIC quietly proceeds with extermination of Tapanuli Orangutans

SDIC has marketed its environmental credentials but has invested in controversial Batang Toru hydropower plant in Sumatra Oliver Telling in Singapore, Financial Times. JUNE 18 2022 A Chinese state-owned company that trumpeted its green credentials when listing on the London Stock Exchange has quietly acquired a development in Indonesia that scientists …

Erdeneburen hydropower project in Mongolia contradicts “Green Belt and Road” standards

By Sukhgerel Dugersuren ,  The Third Pole  https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/energy/opinion-still-time-to-rethink-mongolias-erdeneburen-hydropower-plant/ In April, construction was due to start on Mongolia’s largest hydropower plant to date. The Erdeneburen hydropower plant is planned to be built on the Khovd River in western Mongolia, in an ecologically sensitive area of a national park. The project, which …

The role of hydro in energy revolution continues to decline, but damage to river ecosystems persists

Source: https://www.irena.org/publications/2022/Apr/Renewable-Capacity-Statistics-2022 HYDRO-NO LONGER THE ENGINE FOR ENERGY TRANSITION Hydropower net additions (without pumped storage) are preliminarily assessed in 2021 as 18.9 GW, which is only 7% of global growth in renewables estimated as 257 GW (roughly the same additions as in 2022). Hydropower has shown the slowest growth (2%) …