Why in News? Recent droughts in Colombia and Ecuador have severely hampered energy supplied by hydropower.

What is Hydropower?

Hydropower functions by harnessing the movement of water flowing through a turbine, which generates electricity as it spins. A reliable, cheap and low carbon source of energy, hydropower has been in use over a hundred years ago and today has become a vital clean energy source, providing more electricity than all other renewables combined. Also, hydropower plants are built to respond to changes in the weather - storing water in the rainy season to use when it becomes dry.

What are the Issues Faced by Hydropower? 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. Droughts and sudden floods (which can also damage dams), which occur more frequently and severely due to climate change, are therefore an “increasing concern” for hydropower.

What Happened in Ecuador and Colombia? A drought fueled by the El Nino weather phenomenon has reduced reservoir water levels in hydropower plants in Ecuador and Colombia (both rely on hydropower for most of their electricity). This has led Ecuador to declare a state of emergency and institute power cuts. In neighboring Colombia, water has been rationed in the capital and the country has halted electricity exports to Ecuador.

What is the Solution for these Countries? The solution for these countries is to diversify their power sources by incorporating other renewable technologies (such as wind and solar) into their energy mix. For example, Ghana and Kenya are successfully moving from high reliance on hydropower towards a more “robust portfolio of technologies”. Countries such as China and Brazil are exploring innovations of placing floating solar panels on the water’s surface in hydropower plants.