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Global proliferation of small hydropower plants - science and policy

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Global proliferation of small hydropower plants - science and policy. / Belisario D'araujo Couto, Thiago; Olden, Julian D.
In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Vol. 16, No. 2, 10.01.2018, p. 91-100.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Belisario D'araujo Couto, T & Olden, JD 2018, 'Global proliferation of small hydropower plants - science and policy', Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 91-100. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1746

APA

Belisario D'araujo Couto, T., & Olden, J. D. (2018). Global proliferation of small hydropower plants - science and policy. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(2), 91-100. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1746

Vancouver

Belisario D'araujo Couto T, Olden JD. Global proliferation of small hydropower plants - science and policy. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 2018 Jan 10;16(2):91-100. doi: 10.1002/fee.1746

Author

Belisario D'araujo Couto, Thiago ; Olden, Julian D. / Global proliferation of small hydropower plants - science and policy. In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 2018 ; Vol. 16, No. 2. pp. 91-100.

Bibtex

@article{13e9c6ae4b27409fb84608e0b5758f92,
title = "Global proliferation of small hydropower plants - science and policy",
abstract = "Large-scale electricity policies that embrace renewable resources have led to continued investments in hydropower. Despite evolving viewpoints regarding the sustainability of large hydropower installations, there has been a major increase in support for the widespread development of small hydropower plants (SHPs). A global synthesis reveals that 82,891 SHPs are operating or are under construction (11 SHPs for every one large hydropower plant) and that this number is estimated to triple if all potential generation capacity were to be developed. Fueled by considerable political and economic incentives in recent decades, the growth of SHPs has greatly outpaced available ecological science. We provide evidence for not only the lack of scientifically informed oversight of SHP development but also the limitations of the capacity-based regulations currently in use. The potential indiscriminate expansion of SHPs under the pretense of promoting sustainable energy is concerning, and we identify several important steps to help ensure new scientific advances, effective management, and policy reform in the future.",
author = "{Belisario D'araujo Couto}, Thiago and Olden, {Julian D.}",
year = "2018",
month = jan,
day = "10",
doi = "10.1002/fee.1746",
language = "English",
volume = "16",
pages = "91--100",
journal = "Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment",
issn = "1540-9295",
publisher = "ECOLOGICAL SOC AMER",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Global proliferation of small hydropower plants - science and policy

AU - Belisario D'araujo Couto, Thiago

AU - Olden, Julian D.

PY - 2018/1/10

Y1 - 2018/1/10

N2 - Large-scale electricity policies that embrace renewable resources have led to continued investments in hydropower. Despite evolving viewpoints regarding the sustainability of large hydropower installations, there has been a major increase in support for the widespread development of small hydropower plants (SHPs). A global synthesis reveals that 82,891 SHPs are operating or are under construction (11 SHPs for every one large hydropower plant) and that this number is estimated to triple if all potential generation capacity were to be developed. Fueled by considerable political and economic incentives in recent decades, the growth of SHPs has greatly outpaced available ecological science. We provide evidence for not only the lack of scientifically informed oversight of SHP development but also the limitations of the capacity-based regulations currently in use. The potential indiscriminate expansion of SHPs under the pretense of promoting sustainable energy is concerning, and we identify several important steps to help ensure new scientific advances, effective management, and policy reform in the future.

AB - Large-scale electricity policies that embrace renewable resources have led to continued investments in hydropower. Despite evolving viewpoints regarding the sustainability of large hydropower installations, there has been a major increase in support for the widespread development of small hydropower plants (SHPs). A global synthesis reveals that 82,891 SHPs are operating or are under construction (11 SHPs for every one large hydropower plant) and that this number is estimated to triple if all potential generation capacity were to be developed. Fueled by considerable political and economic incentives in recent decades, the growth of SHPs has greatly outpaced available ecological science. We provide evidence for not only the lack of scientifically informed oversight of SHP development but also the limitations of the capacity-based regulations currently in use. The potential indiscriminate expansion of SHPs under the pretense of promoting sustainable energy is concerning, and we identify several important steps to help ensure new scientific advances, effective management, and policy reform in the future.

UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fee.1746

U2 - 10.1002/fee.1746

DO - 10.1002/fee.1746

M3 - Journal article

VL - 16

SP - 91

EP - 100

JO - Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

JF - Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

SN - 1540-9295

IS - 2

ER -