A positive example of hydropowerIt was one of the first hydropower plants to be certified as a carbon offset project: Pesqueiro, the small hydropower plant with two Francis turbines on the Jaguariaíva River in the Brazilian state of Paraná. The dam floods only a small reservoir and does not affect local residents. It has been connected to the grid since 2003 and is operated as a joint project by three agricultural cooperatives. This means that the focus is not on profit but on better conditions for members, in this case mainly small farmers in the region.
Pesqueiro also supports social projects in the surrounding area. It is particularly pleasing that the ecosystem still functions in the same way and that as many fish live in the river as before.
How hydropower contributes to climate actionHydropower plants use the energy of water to generate electricity. The energy is harnessed by passing water through a turbine. Under the pressure of the water, the turbine turns and transfers this energy to a generator, which converts kinetic energy into electricity. This principle applies to all types of hydroelectric power plants: from small run-of-river power plants to pumped-storage power plants on bodies of water like lakes. In many parts of the world, electricity is still primarily generated from fossil fuels. Clean hydropower can replace some of this emission-intensive energy and thus verifiably save carbon emissions. In most hydropower projects, the electricity is fed into a regional power grid, diversifying the energy supply and improving energy security in areas affected by power shortages and blackouts. Often, these projects also create jobs for the local population. Hydropower projects thus make an important contribution to clean energy supply as well as contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hydopower projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.
