Innovations in hydropeaking research

100 Key Questions to Guide Hydropeaking Research and Policy

“…Flexible hydropower production to balance intermittent electricity (for example, wind and solar) is a key foundation in the low-carbon energy transition and, therefore, constitutes a central aspect in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 7 ('affordable and clean energy') and SDG 13 ('climate action'). However, hydropeaking is also a controversial topic [166], considering that rapid sub-daily flow fluctuations due to turbine operations constitute one of the most significant hydro-ecological impacts on river ecosystems downstream from dams [1,4,113], standing in contradiction to the freshwater biodiversity targets of SDG 15 ('life on land'). Therefore, understanding hydropeaking drivers and their impacts, is critical to determine adequate responses, such as best practice mitigation solutions, protection measures [17,147], and policies.…”