How can hydropower enhance the participation and empowerment of local communities and stakeholders?

Plz add tidal-stream Tidal Turbine Generators (TTGs). The UK is presently the world leader with >30 years of R&D and pilot studies into TTG technology, with grid connected utility kWh-scale and MWh-scale array sites since 2016.

Hydropower projects can enhance community participation and empowerment through inclusive engagement, collaboration with stakeholders, and transparent decision-making. Capacity-building programs, local employment initiatives, and benefit-sharing mechanisms contribute to community development. Investments in local infrastructure and services address broader community needs. Cultural and environmental preservation measures, along with community ownership or partnership models, promote a sense of ownership. Regular communication, feedback mechanisms, and effective dispute resolution processes strengthen relationships with local communities.

Something about the operation of hydroelectric plants is the concept of "reversible pumping" or "pumped storage hydroelectricity". This system acts like a giant battery to store energy. During periods of low electricity demand, the plant uses excess energy available on the electrical grid to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. When electricity demand increases, water from the upper reservoir is released back into the lower reservoir, passing through turbines and generating electricity. This method is highly efficient for storing energy and helping balance supply and demand on the electrical grid, especially useful with the increasing integration of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

One of the few benefits of hydroelectric energy that almost no one talks about is the control and reduction of erosion. For those who don't know, there is a type of erosion called river erosion - which often causes landslides and silting of the watercourse - and an effective way to prevent this type of erosion is by building water dams. Dams that can be used to produce electricity while preventing river erosion.

Like everything else in the world, hydroelectric energy, that is, hydroelectric plants, also has its disadvantages. One of the disadvantages that it has, but it is not very significant, is the fact that it produces methane, especially in tropical climate zones. The methane produced in a water dam is derived from the anaerobic decomposition of plant biomass. As an example, there is a study carried out at the Balbina dam in Brazil. The study showed that the methane produced at that dam has a much greater global warming impact than the carbon dioxide that would be emitted by an equivalent amount of energy generated by fossil fuels.

The involvement of local communities and interested parties is essential for the good reputation of any project. It is impossible for a project to be fully implemented without the involvement and empowerment of local communities. Why did I say "involvement"? Because local communities are more interested in benefits than in participating in decision-making processes. This can be done by offering financial compensation and direct benefits to affected communities, such as royalties and resource utilization fees; investing in social projects, such as health and education programs, to support the well-being of communities.

Increasing the participation and empowerment of local communities and stakeholders is an effective strategy to address the challenges associated with hydropower. This involvement ensures that projects are more sustainable, equitable and accepted by affected communities. By promoting open dialogue, incorporating community feedback and investing in local benefits, it is possible to balance the need for renewable energy with environmental preservation and social well-being. In some projects, hydroelectric plants are community-owned or part of cooperatives, allowing local residents to share in the economic benefits of power generation.

There is an environmental education and awareness program that was implemented in Ethiopia during the construction phase of the Gilgel Gibe III dam in order to increase residents' understanding of the importance of conserving water resources and involve them in environmental monitoring activities. The program had several components and began with: a community information session to provide details about the Gilgel Gibe III project, including its objectives, expected benefits, possible environmental and social impacts, and mitigation measures; educational seminars, technical training and more such as resettlement and compensation programs were then held to inform displaced communities about their rights.

There is a strategy that I use to get involved in energy projects, and I fully believe that it can help other people too, which is: Offer free help. In other words, you can carry out studies and research and present everything to those entitled to it free of charge. By doing this whenever you get the chance, one day you will be noticed and invited to be involved.