New paper published in Nature Communications on hydropower, wind, and solar in Southern Africa

New paper published in Nature Communications on the costs and carbon benefits of developing wind, solar, and hydropower projects that have lower social and environmental impacts. This is the first study to examine the power system level impacts of lower-impact build-out of hydropower, wind, and solar technologies simultaneously, which is particularly important in hydro-dominated countries in those in Southern Africa. 

Some highlights from the paper:

• Without socio-environmental protections or a climate goal, wind and solar account for HALF of the new cost-optimal generation capacity and total energy generation needed to meet electricity demand in Southern Africa in 2040.
• About 40% of planned or proposed hydropower capacity has significant social and/or environmental impacts, such as altering free-flowing rivers in sensitive habitats or displacing communities. Without siting protections, more than 150,000 people could be displaced by hydropower.
• Increasing wind (+7.5%), solar (+29%), and battery capacity (+23%), while reducing hydropower capacity (−31%), can meet forecasted energy demand and a 50% reduction in carbon emissions in 2040 compared to 2020, while protecting socially and environmentally important areas in Southern Africa.
• Achieving an environmentally sustainable, more socially equitable, and low-carbon electricity system for Southern Africa is slightly more expensive compared to unrestricted, higher-impact development—3.8% more for all socio-environmental protections and 6.8% more for all socio-environmental protections with a low-carbon target. 

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Read the policy brief here!

Stiegler's Gorge dam, which would inundate a large portion of Selous Game Reserve (now Nyerere National Park), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was one of the hydropower projects we screened out under our lower impact development scenarios. Image from TanzanianAffairs.org