A meeting convened by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) saw 11 energy executives discuss with the IEA’s Executive Director, Dr Fatih Birol, how hydropower can contribute to global recovery efforts.
The consensus view from the hydropower CEOs was that economic stimulus packages involving investment in sustainable hydropower among other renewables will be essential to Covid-19 recovery efforts.
Ahead of a special IEA World Energy Outlook report on sustainable recovery, Dr Birol emphasised the importance of hydropower to a modern, clean and secure energy future.
“The impact of COVID-19 on today’s energy sector is unprecedented and has highlighted the important role hydropower plays in providing electricity security and system flexibility,” said Dr Birol. “The voice of hydropower is not heard loudly enough in the energy and climate debate. It already represents 16 per cent of global electricity demand and 65 per cent of renewables-based electricity with significant potential to grow, including through modernisation or refurbishment of existing hydropower.”
Eddie Rich, IHA’s CEO, and the 11 hydropower CEOs and top executives from IHA’s membership, presented a united message on the need for sustainable hydropower as part of the energy mix for a green recovery.
“Even more than other renewables, government policies and actions drive investment in the hydropower sector. A ‘green stimulus’ for low carbon technologies and hydropower infrastructure should be a key pillar of government-led recovery packages,” Rich said.
Despite the worldwide need for hydropower’s flexibility and grid management services to support variable renewables, investment is stagnating. Improved market design to compensate for these services is necessary to incentivise investment in plants with storage, such as pumped hydropower.
Developing countries
In developing countries where the fiscal response to the COVID-19 crisis is limited, multilateral development banks will be critical in financing or refinancing viable projects.
Anton-Louis Olivier, CEO of REH Group, based in South Africa, said: “With the growing emphasis and prevalence of solar and lower cost but intermittent resources, we should not neglect the need for hydro to create the base on which these lower-cost technologies can also enter into the market. My message to the IEA in dealing with the international financial sector and multilaterals guiding the future of the energy sector in Africa is to remember that hydro, large and small, can still play a significant role in the continent, and can contribute to a growing and decarbonised power sector.”
Developed regions
Yves Marie Giraud, Director of EDF-Hydro, France, said hydropower was the best way and the only way to store energy in large quantities and over long periods, but markets should be designed better to reflect this.
“Usually, we do not have the appropriate market design nor the mechanisms to support storage in general, and pumped storage plants in particular,” said Giraud.
This view was echoed by Stephen Davy, CEO of Hydro Tasmania, Australia, who said: “Pumped hydropower investment is the easiest and most straightforward way to maximise solar and wind generation in the energy system. In Australia, we are promoting the market measures required to properly value storage and flexibility.”
Special report
Dr Birol acknowledged the points made by the hydropower CEOs, including about the importance of storage, modernising plants, and keeping long-term policy support; as well as the multiple non-energy benefits of hydropower, such as flood and drought control, irrigation and climate resilience.
As well as feeding into this week’s IEA World Energy Outlook special report, the discussion will be considered for the IEA’s Clean Energy Transitions Summit on 9 July 2020. Dr Birol pledged to take the feedback from the meeting to the government ministers and policymakers attending the Summit.
Roger Gill, IHA President, said the meeting was very timely for the hydropower sector to outline the measures needed to spur sustainable hydropower and support the recovery, particularly relating to incentivising storage and modernisation projects.
“Sustainability must be at the heart of our response to the crisis,” said Gill. “Over the coming weeks and months, IHA will continue to offer our assistance to the industry and press home our message on the role of sustainable hydropower development to support the recovery, boost jobs and to help build low-carbon, resilient economies.”
Source: Power Engineering International