Small Scale Hydroelectric Development and the Environment: Issues, Challenge, and Opportunity

摘要

A small scale hydroelectric (SSH) facility is defined as an existing dam that can be retrofitted to produce 25 MW or less capacity. An estimate of the total SSH potential in the United States indicates there are 4979 sites with 8775 MW capacity and 25,126 GWh average annual energy. This represents approximately 1% of existing total installed electrical capacity from all sources in the US. Some of the major environmental issues that must be analyzed to determine potential for adverse impact at SSH sites include dredging, fish passage, water level fluctuation, and instream (minimum) flow. Each of these issues is discussed. It is concluded that development of the SSH resource represents a good energy investment and that the attributes of renewable energy and the emphasis on existing dams as opposed to new dam construction are positive features from the environmental standpoint. (ERA citation 06:005875)