Melting glaciers make room for water reservoirs
A new report by the Federal Council shows that the retreat of glaciers in the Alps increases the potential for electricity production and seasonal energy storage from hydropower. Despite the additional potential of up to 2430 gigawatt hours, conflicts of interest make it difficult to fully exploit this potential.
The retreat of glaciers in the Alps increases the potential for electricity production from hydropower and energy storage. This is shown in the report“Analysis of the hydropower potential of glacier melt“, which the Federal Council approved on December 6, according to a press release.
According to the report, the retreat of the glaciers leads to an additional potential of 1470 gigawatt hours for the production of electricity. Of this, 340 gigawatt hours came from the expansion of existing plants and 1130 gigawatt hours from new plants.
The potential for seasonal storage of hydropower, which could be turbined in winter, is even greater at 2430 gigawatt hours. Of this, 1300 gigawatt hours are attributable to the expansion of existing storage facilities and 1130 gigawatt hours to new constructions.
However, the use of this potential is likely to be limited by conflicts with other interests. For example, potential new plants with a production of 540 gigawatt hours would be located in designated floodplain areas and therefore cannot be used as things stand at present. Plants with an annual production of 910 gigawatt hours would have conflicts with floodplain areas, but would not be located in such exclusion zones.
The economic viability of storage projects can be secured to a large extent by existing funding instruments. However, renewals and expansions could be slowed down because concessions expire. Operators would first have to secure their investments in negotiations with the local authorities before investing.
The report fulfills postulate 21.3974 of the National Council’s Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy from August 24, 2021.