Many Small Vs A Few Large? The Hydroelectric Feasibility of Small-Scale Hydropower Plants in Southern Chile

Abstract

In recent years, the performance of large dams has been challenged in different regions of the world especially due to their environmental impacts. Extensive conversion of land, major alteration of hydrological systems, and disruption of freshwater ecosystems are some of the identified effects of large dams on natural resources. After much controversy, in 2014 the government of Chile rejected the mega hydroelectric project 'HidroAysen' due to potential environmental impacts of the dams in the south of the country. However, the energy demand of Chile is continually increasing year by year, leading the government to search for alternative sources in order to meet present and future demands. The unique geography of Chile suggests that around two hundred basins have hydropower potential. Because the implementation of several small-scale hydroelectric schemes (SHS) rather than large-scale dams has not been explored as a possible alternative in Chile, this paper will present a an approach by which large versus small hydropower performance is compared in order to inform present and future water resource management.