Severe drought approaching the world: What role the hyrdo-power play?

Droughts in Ecuador and Colombia have interrupted the hydropower supplied energy. Hydropower, however, has been used for centuries as a clean energy source. At present, the energy source offers more electricity than all the other renewables.

However, the power shortages in Columbia and Ecuador have brought about concerns.

The El Nino weather phenomenon brought about a drought. This declined the water levels in the reservoirs of the hydropower plants. Now, both the countries actually depend on these hydropower plants substantially for electricity. This made Ecuador declare a situation of emergency. Ecuador instituted power cuts. In Columbia, the country has stopped electricity exports to Ecuador.

The issue of climate change

Hydropower operates by means of harnessing the movement of water that flows through a turbine. This generates electricity by spinning.

Matthew McCartney, an expert with the International Water Management Institute, situated in Sri Lanka, expressed that “Hydropower is dependent on water so clearly if there is no water at all then hydropower cannot be used, disrupting energy production and stressing energy systems.”

Sudden floods and droughts have become more common due to climate change. Such situations bring about an increasing concern for the hydropower.

Hydropower plants are constructed for the purpose responding to alterations in the weather. Hydropower helps in gathering water in the rainy season in order to make it use when it actually becomes dry.

However, Ecuador and Columbia have been facing the issue of increasing temperatures and consistently low rainfall in the last year. Experts say that it is because of this issue that the regulation of hydropower is getting difficult. Troubles increased with the increase in demand for water and energy as the locals are using more tap and air conditioners.

As per Ember, an energy think tank based in the United States, in the first half of the year 2023, the global output of hydropower saw a significant drop.