February 07, 2019

Droughts And Hydropower

Listen Later

2 minutes

Recent droughts in several western states have led to well-publicized problems including wildfires, loss of trees, and damage to crops. A lesser-known impact of drought conditions has been increases in emissions of carbon dioxide and harmful air pollutants from power generation.

When hydropower runs low in a drought, western states tend to ramp up

power generation – and therefore emissions – from fossil fuels. According to a new study from Stanford

University, droughts caused about 10 percent of the average annual carbon

dioxide emissions from power generation in California, Idaho, Oregon and

Washington between 2001 and 2015.

Water is used in electricity generation both directly for

hydroelectric power and indirectly for cooling in thermoelectric power

plants. When water for hydropower comes

up short because of drought conditions, natural gas or coal-fired power plants

are brought online to pick up the slack.

These drought-induced shifts in energy sources led to an estimated 100

million tons of carbon dioxide across 11 western states between 2001 and

2015. That is the equivalent of adding

1.4 million vehicles to the region’s roadways.

California, whose legislature has mandated that the state be carbon-free

by 2045, contributed about half of this total.

Washington, which is considering a similar mandate, contributed nearly a

quarter of the total.

Western states in recent years have suffered intense droughts that

scientists expect to become more common as global warming continues to

intensify. The new study indicates that

in regions where clean, reliable hydropower has been an important part of the

energy mix, it will be increasingly necessary to provide clean backup energy

sources in order to meet emission reduction targets.

**********

Web Links

Droughts boost emissions as hydropower dries up

Photo, posted March 7, 2016, courtesy of Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more

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Earth Wise

By Randy Simon

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February 07, 2019

Droughts And Hydropower

Listen Later

2 minutes

Recent droughts in several western states have led to well-publicized problems including wildfires, loss of trees, and damage to crops. A lesser-known impact of drought conditions has been increases in emissions of carbon dioxide and harmful air pollutants from power generation.

When hydropower runs low in a drought, western states tend to ramp up

power generation – and therefore emissions – from fossil fuels. According to a new study from Stanford

University, droughts caused about 10 percent of the average annual carbon

dioxide emissions from power generation in California, Idaho, Oregon and

Washington between 2001 and 2015.

Water is used in electricity generation both directly for

hydroelectric power and indirectly for cooling in thermoelectric power

plants. When water for hydropower comes

up short because of drought conditions, natural gas or coal-fired power plants

are brought online to pick up the slack.

These drought-induced shifts in energy sources led to an estimated 100

million tons of carbon dioxide across 11 western states between 2001 and

2015. That is the equivalent of adding

1.4 million vehicles to the region’s roadways.

California, whose legislature has mandated that the state be carbon-free

by 2045, contributed about half of this total.

Washington, which is considering a similar mandate, contributed nearly a

quarter of the total.

Western states in recent years have suffered intense droughts that

scientists expect to become more common as global warming continues to

intensify. The new study indicates that

in regions where clean, reliable hydropower has been an important part of the

energy mix, it will be increasingly necessary to provide clean backup energy

sources in order to meet emission reduction targets.

**********

Web Links

Droughts boost emissions as hydropower dries up

Photo, posted March 7, 2016, courtesy of Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more