Why is a large-scale increase in hydropower unlikely?

Why is a large-scale increase in hydropower unlikely?

• A. The amount of water already dammed is not expected to rise because dams cannot be placed everywhere.
• B. Water resources are unlimited and new dams are easy to build.
• C. It produces no emissions.
• D. It is too expensive to build any dams.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that where you can build large-scale hydropower is limited by geography and by environmental and social constraints. You can only dam rivers that have enough flow, suitable terrain for a reservoir, and that won’t cause unacceptable ecological damage or displace communities. Many of the best sites are already used or are protected, and others are opposed or impractical to develop. Because of these limits, there aren’t abundant viable locations left to dramatically expand hydropower, so a large nationwide increase is unlikely. Shorter statements about unlimited water resources or easy construction aren’t accurate, and while hydropower can have low operating emissions, there are lifecycle and ecological costs to consider. Also, building dams isn’t universally prohibitive in cost—some projects are economically viable—so cost alone doesn’t explain why large-scale growth is unlikely.

The key idea here is that where you can build large-scale hydropower is limited by geography and by environmental and social constraints. You can only dam rivers that have enough flow, suitable terrain for a reservoir, and that won’t cause unacceptable ecological damage or displace communities. Many of the best sites are already used or are protected, and others are opposed or impractical to develop. Because of these limits, there aren’t abundant viable locations left to dramatically expand hydropower, so a large nationwide increase is unlikely.

Shorter statements about unlimited water resources or easy construction aren’t accurate, and while hydropower can have low operating emissions, there are lifecycle and ecological costs to consider. Also, building dams isn’t universally prohibitive in cost—some projects are economically viable—so cost alone doesn’t explain why large-scale growth is unlikely.