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The European Fish Hazard Index – An assessment tool for screening hazard of hydropower plants for fish

van Treeck, Ruben; Radinger, Johannes; Noble, Richard A.A.; Geiger, Franz; Wolter, Christian

Authors

Ruben van Treeck

Johannes Radinger

Franz Geiger

Christian Wolter



Abstract

Hydroelectricity is critical for decarbonizing global energy production, but hydropower plants affect rivers, disrupt their continuity, and threaten migrating fishes. This puts hydroelectricity production in conflict with efforts to protect threatened species and re-connect fragmented ecosystems. Assessing the impact of hydropower on fishes will support informed decision-making during planning, commissioning, and operation of hydropower facilities. Few methods estimate mortalities of single species passing through hydropower turbines, but no commonly agreed tool assesses hazards of hydropower plants for fish populations. The European Fish Hazard Index bridges this gap. This assessment tool for screening ecological risk considers constellation specific effects of plant design and operation, the sensitivity and mortality of fish species and overarching conservation and environmental development targets for a river. Further, it facilitates impact mitigation of new and existing hydropower plants of various types across Europe.

Citation

van Treeck, R., Radinger, J., Noble, R. A., Geiger, F., & Wolter, C. (2021). The European Fish Hazard Index – An assessment tool for screening hazard of hydropower plants for fish. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments an international journal, 43, Article 100903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2020.100903

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 6, 2020
Online Publication Date Dec 4, 2020
Publication Date 2021-02
Deposit Date Feb 10, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments
Print ISSN 2213-1388
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 43
Article Number 100903
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2020.100903
Keywords Hydropower; Impact assessment; Freshwater fish; Conservation; Management
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3670908
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213138820313308?via%3Dihub

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