Hydro energy in Poland: the history, current state, potential, SWOT analysis, environmental aspects

Igliński, Bartłomiej

doi:10.1007/s42108-019-00008-w

Cited by 33 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…Additionally, the demand for process water was still growing 25 years ago [117]. In Poland, industrial development is accompanied by the construction of small water mills as local and independent energy sources [118]. After intense river straightening on river systems in northern Poland in the last century, the water quality decreased [119].…”

Section: European Transferability Of the Concept Of The Five Phases Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of 200 years of water resource management on a typical central European river. Does industrialization straighten a river?

et al. 2021

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Background Over the last 200 years, the courses of most European rivers have experienced significant irreversible changes. These changes are connected to different kinds of anthropogenic river use and exploitation, which have varied from running water mills and rafting to large-scale hydroelectric power plants, industrial water withdrawal and flood protection measures. Today, in most developed countries, water quality and ecological river development are important factors in water management. The aim of this study is to evaluate the specific impacts of different time periods during the last 200 years on river courses and their effects on current river management using the example of the 165-km-long German Rur River (North Rhine-Westphalia). The Rur River is a typical central European upland-to-lowland river whose catchment has been affected by various phases of industrial development. Methods In this study, a range of morphological changes over the last 200 years are determined based on historic maps and up-to-date orthophotos. River length, sinuosity, oxbow structures, sidearms and the number of islands are used to investigate human impact. The results are correlated with historic time periods. Results This analysis shows that river straightening increases, especially during the Industrial Revolution, even without direct hydraulic channelization. The period and grade of river straightening have a direct morphodynamic impact on today’s river restorations. Since the Rur River is a typical upland-to-lowland river, the results show an additional impact by geofactors, such as landform configurations. Conclusions Morphodynamic development is correlated with five historic periods of industrial development between 1801 and 2019 up to the introduction of the EU—Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD). Each period shows a different influence on the watercourse, which is connected with human intervention. Even if worldwide comparisons show that the five historical phases differ slightly in their timing between regions, they are applicable to other study areas.

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Section: European Transferability Of the Concept Of The Five Phases Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of 200 years of water resource management on a typical central European river. Does industrialization straighten a river?

et al. 2021

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“…In Poland's energy policy, the most emphasis is placed on the use of coal, but also on renewable energy sources, especially biomass. Hydropower plays a marginal role in the country's energy balance [65].…”

Section: Polandmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Poland, the challenge facing the development of hydropower is the constant changes in the energy law through adjusting to EU law, and the complicated process of obtaining approvals for the implementation of hydropower investments. However, due to the well-developed engineering technology and conditions for the construction of small retention reservoirs, the hydropower potential in this country is high (around 19 PJ) [65,66]. The share of renewable sources in the final energy consumption increased from 6.9% in 2004 to 11.3% in 2018 [2,3].…”

Section: Polandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges in the Development of Hydropower in Selected European Countries

Tomczyk

Wiatkowski

2020

Water

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Hydropower in Europe is playing an increasingly important role as a renewable source of energy. Its share of the final energy consumption varies from country to country, posing different challenges in each. The European Union member states are obliged, according to energy policy, to increase the share of renewable energy. This article presents the challenges related to the development of hydropower in four countries with different shares of domestic electricity production from hydropower plants: Albania (100% share in 2019), Slovenia (25.7%), Poland (1.1%), and Estonia (0.3%). Particular attention is paid to the issues of rational management of water resources in connection to Europe’s energy policy. As a result of the case study analysis, the challenges in the development of hydropower are identified, as well as ways to solve them. In addition, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of social, economic, environmental and climate change factors on the development of hydropower was conducted. At present, whether the assumed goals of the European Union’s energy policy will be achieved is impossible to determine for the whole of Europe. Achieving these goals will be possible only after individual countries prepare comprehensive reports on the topics of renewable energy sources, including hydropower.

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“…coal, are transported by waterways [89]. In Poland industrial development is accompanied by the construction of small water mills as local and independent energy source up to today [92]. After intense river straightening on river systems in northern…”

Section: European Transferability Of the Concept Of Five Eras Of Rivementioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of 200 Years of Water Resource Management on a Typical Central European River 

Wolf¹,

Esser²,

Schüttrumpf³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Over the last 200 years, most European river courses experienced significant irreversible changes. These changes were connected with different kinds of anthropogenic river use and exploitation, which varied from running water mills and rafting to large-scale hydroelectric power plants, industrial water withdrawal and measures for flood protection. Today, in most of the developed countries water quality and ecological river development are stakeholders in water management. The aim of the following study is to evaluate the specific impact of different time periods during the last 200 years on river courses, and its effects on the current river management using the example of the 165 km long German Rur River (North Rhine-Westphalia). The Rur River is a representative central European upland to lowland river, whose catchment has been affected by various phases of industrial development.MethodsIn this study, large-scale morphological changes over the last 200 years are determined based on historic maps and up-to-date orthophotos. The indicators river length, sinuosity, oxbow structures, sidearms and the number of islands are used to investigate human impact. The results are correlated with historic time periods.ResultsThis analysis shows that river straightening does increase especially during the industrial revolution, even without direct hydraulic channelization, which applies not only to the study area but also to further examples worldwide. The period and grade of river straightening has a direct morphodynamic impact on today’s river restorations. Since the Rur River is a typical upland to lowland river, the results show additional impact of geo-factors, like landform configurations.ConclusionsThe morphodynamic development is correlated with five historic periods between 1801 and 2019 of industrial development up to the introduction of the EU - Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD). Each period shows different influence on the watercourse which is connected with human intervention. Even if worldwide comparisons show that the five historical phases differ slightly in time between regions, they are applicable to other study areas.

show abstract

Hydro energy in Poland: the history, current state, potential, SWOT analysis, environmental aspects

Cited by 33 publications

References 16 publications

Influence of 200 years of water resource management on a typical central European river. Does industrialization straighten a river?

Influence of 200 years of water resource management on a typical central European river. Does industrialization straighten a river?

Challenges in the Development of Hydropower in Selected European Countries

Influence of 200 Years of Water Resource Management on a Typical Central European River

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Hydro energy in Poland: the history, current state, potential, SWOT analysis, environmental aspects

Cited by 33 publications

References 16 publications

Influence of 200 years of water resource management on a typical central European river. Does industrialization straighten a river?

Influence of 200 years of water resource management on a typical central European river. Does industrialization straighten a river?

Challenges in the Development of Hydropower in Selected European Countries

Influence of 200 Years of Water Resource Management on a Typical Central European River&nbsp;

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Influence of 200 Years of Water Resource Management on a Typical Central European River