Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential.
Population growth, increasing energy demand and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves necessitate a search for sustainable alternatives for electricity generation. Hydropower could replace a large part of the contribution of gas and oil to the present energy mix. However, previous high-resolution es...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2017-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5298288?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1819177774740406272 |
|---|---|
| author | Olivier A C Hoes Lourens J J Meijer Ruud J van der Ent Nick C van de Giesen |
| author_facet | Olivier A C Hoes Lourens J J Meijer Ruud J van der Ent Nick C van de Giesen |
| author_sort | Olivier A C Hoes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Population growth, increasing energy demand and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves necessitate a search for sustainable alternatives for electricity generation. Hydropower could replace a large part of the contribution of gas and oil to the present energy mix. However, previous high-resolution estimates of hydropower potential have been local, and have yet to be applied on a global scale. This study is the first to formally present a detailed evaluation of the hydropower potential of each location, based on slope and discharge of each river in the world. The gross theoretical hydropower potential is approximately 52 PWh/year divided over 11.8 million locations. This 52 PWh/year is equal to 33% of the annually required energy, while the present energy production by hydropower plants is just 3% of the annually required energy. The results of this study: all potentially interesting locations for hydroelectric power plants, are available online. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:32:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d6c2be87d2314101b64f0102df2bf8ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:32:00Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6c2be87d2314101b64f0102df2bf8ce2022-12-21T18:11:54ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01122e017184410.1371/journal.pone.0171844Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential.Olivier A C HoesLourens J J MeijerRuud J van der EntNick C van de GiesenPopulation growth, increasing energy demand and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves necessitate a search for sustainable alternatives for electricity generation. Hydropower could replace a large part of the contribution of gas and oil to the present energy mix. However, previous high-resolution estimates of hydropower potential have been local, and have yet to be applied on a global scale. This study is the first to formally present a detailed evaluation of the hydropower potential of each location, based on slope and discharge of each river in the world. The gross theoretical hydropower potential is approximately 52 PWh/year divided over 11.8 million locations. This 52 PWh/year is equal to 33% of the annually required energy, while the present energy production by hydropower plants is just 3% of the annually required energy. The results of this study: all potentially interesting locations for hydroelectric power plants, are available online.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5298288?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Olivier A C Hoes Lourens J J Meijer Ruud J van der Ent Nick C van de Giesen Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential. PLoS ONE |
| title | Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential. |
| title_full | Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential. |
| title_fullStr | Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential. |
| title_short | Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential. |
| title_sort | systematic high resolution assessment of global hydropower potential |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5298288?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olivierachoes systematichighresolutionassessmentofglobalhydropowerpotential AT lourensjjmeijer systematichighresolutionassessmentofglobalhydropowerpotential AT ruudjvanderent systematichighresolutionassessmentofglobalhydropowerpotential AT nickcvandegiesen systematichighresolutionassessmentofglobalhydropowerpotential |