Constructing pumped hydroelectric facilities has several notable environmental impacts primarily related to dam and reservoir creation, construction materials, and operation effects:
- Land and Habitat Disruption: Building reservoirs floods large areas of land, destroying forests, wildlife habitats, agricultural lands, and scenic areas. This flooding profoundly affects local ecosystems by submerging terrestrial habitats and altering surrounding environments.
- Fish Migration and Aquatic Ecosystems: Dams constructed for pumped hydro can obstruct fish migration routes and disrupt river ecosystems. This can alter fish populations and aquatic biodiversity by changing water flow patterns and temperature regimes.
- Construction Phase Impacts: The construction process involves extensive use of materials such as concrete, steel, and cement, which contribute significantly to environmental burdens including greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. These embodied impacts are substantial during the build-out of infrastructure like dams and powerhouses.
- Operational Impacts and Energy Losses: The operation phase of pumped hydro involves energy losses during the pumping and generation cycle. These losses contribute to environmental impacts, primarily through the associated electricity generation emissions depending on the energy mix of the grid. As renewable energy penetration increases, these operational impacts are expected to decline.
- Water Sourcing and Quality: For closed-loop pumped storage systems (that do not rely on natural waterways), sourcing water can be an environmental concern that might lead to delays and additional impacts. Water quality and local hydrology may also be affected.
- Low Direct Emissions: Unlike fossil fuel generators, pumped hydro facilities do not directly emit air pollutants during operation, contributing to their characterization as a relatively green technology in terms of operational emissions.
In summary, while pumped hydroelectric facilities offer low direct emissions and support renewable energy integration, their construction causes significant environmental disturbance through land flooding, habitat loss, and material use. Operational impacts mostly relate to energy losses and water management. Future improvements in grid renewable energy share are likely to reduce the overall environmental footprint of pumped hydro systems.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-environmental-impacts-of-constructing-pumped-hydroelectric-facilities/
