As the world tries to boost access to renewable energy sources, climate change poses further challenges to implementing those plans, especially in countries most affected by the phenomenon.
When talking about clean energy sources, attention always turns to the sun and wind, but the largest share of it globally comes through hydroelectric power, which depends on the flow of water to generate electricity through turbines.
Iraq, which was once known for its abundant water resources, has begun to suffer from the impact of drought resulting from climate change and declining river water levels on the volume of hydroelectric power it produces, which is one of the most important sources of energy in the Arab country.
The sixth report of the UN Global Environment placed Iraq in fifth place globally in the list of countries exposed to water shortages and extreme temperatures.
Speaking to “Green in Arabic”, Professor Dr. Eng. Samir Al-Jabouri, a renewable energy expert at Al-Kitab University in Iraq, said that the country relies heavily on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to generate hydroelectric power, and that the decline in water levels in these rivers due to drought has reduced the ability to operate dams efficiently, including the Mosul and Dokan dams.
He continued: “There are reports that hydroelectric power generation capacity has declined significantly, forcing Iraq to rely more on other energy sources.”
According to data from the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, hydropower production rates decreased from nearly 3.5 million megawatts/hour in 2021 to less than 2.7 million megawatts/hour in 2022.
The statistical report issued by the ministry for the year 2022 revealed a decline in hydroelectric power generated by several dams, including the main Mosul Dam built on the Tigris River, and the Haditha Dam built on the Euphrates River, while the Samarra Dam succeeded in defying expectations.
Al-Jabouri continued saying that the decline in hydroelectric power production has increased pressure on the national electricity grid, leading to increased power outages and affecting the country’s economic and social stability.
Disadvantages of hydroelectric power
The widespread reliance on dams worldwide to generate hydroelectric power has many environmental impacts that may contribute to exacerbating climate change, harming biodiversity, and harming local populations in the areas where these dams are built.
Dams alter the carbon cycle because free-flowing rivers transport carbon in the form of organic matter and sediments to the sea, but trapping these sediments disrupts that journey, and the percentage of organic carbon reaching the oceans is expected to fall by about 19% by 2030, according to “Mongabay” website.
However, the Iraqi expert believes that hydroelectric power can be generated in ways that are more environmentally friendly, including using floating turbines on the surface of rivers or lakes without affecting waterways, and using tidal energy in coastal areas to generate electricity as an alternative to traditional dam technologies.
He pointed out the possibility of relying on using the natural flow of the river to generate energy without the need to create large reservoirs. These stations ensure that water continues to flow naturally, reducing environmental damage, improving sediment management to ensure the flow of natural nutrients to support aquatic life, and creating passages through which fish can pass through dams without obstruction.
Al-Jabouri believes that “the importance of hydroelectric power should not be overlooked; it provides a sustainable and clean source of energy that can play an important role in the global energy mix, especially if environmental and social drawbacks are addressed effectively.”
More dams
But climate change and the successive waves of drought and flooding resulting from heavy rains have made Iraq in dire need of dams that can store the water that falls during flood periods. For example, the first half of 2024 witnessed torrential floods that caused water levels in dams to reach levels not seen in several years.
Last May, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported government statements including the authorities’ plan to expand the construction of small-scale water harvesting dams to benefit from rainwater.
However, Al-Jabouri believes that it is possible to reconcile Iraq's need for new dams in areas with rainfall and to face the challenges associated with climate change and declining water resources, through several integrated strategies, including developing and implementing plans to adapt to the effects of climate change, including improving infrastructure and developing innovative solutions for water management, designing multi-purpose dams that can store water, generate electricity, and irrigate agricultural land at the same time, diversifying energy sources and expanding investment in other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy, in addition to conducting comprehensive studies to determine the most suitable areas for building new dams according to rainfall data and local needs.
