Melting Glaciers Change Europe’s Energy Outlook

The Swiss Alps, like the Himalayas, are continental water towers. As the warming temperatures cause glaciers to recede, water availability will shift earlier in the year, meaning less water to generate electricity in the summer. However, predicting changing climate patterns is filled with uncertainty because regional conditions will vary.

"With climate change there will be some areas in the world with more precipitation year round," said Petra Doell, a Professor of Hydrology at the University of Frankfurt. "That will mean more hydropower generation even if glaciers melt."

Climate models predict wetter winters and drier summers for Switzerland, but it is uncertain whether the increased snowfall will compensate for the decrease in glacial runoff. Norway, on the other hand, will likely see an increase in rain. The country already gets almost 100 percent of its electricity from hydropower.

One solution for the continent is to create more pumped storage facilities, which use two reservoirs to ensure electricity is available during peak usage times. Water released to generate electricity is held in a lower reservoir and then pumped uphill into the upper reservoir. This system uses cheaper off-peak power during low demand periods. While the process uses more energy than it produces, it helps to regulate the transmission network.

Doubts about the reliability of hydropower come at a time in Europe when investment in new facilities is increasing, according to Renewable Energy World.com . The European Union issued a mandate in 2007 that 20% of the total energy consumption in member countries must come from renewable sources by 2020. However, unreliable water supplies threaten the economic viability of many hydroelectric projects, according to a study by professors at the University of Edinburgh. The high costs of building a hydroelectric plant are recovered through revenue from energy sales. The EU's Water Framework Directive mandates cost recovery for all water services, meaning prices will go up when resources become scarce.

Source: Reuters