Abstract
Hydropower is an important source of renewable energy worldwide. In 2022, hydropower was estimated to produce 15% of the world’s electricity with pump-storage an integral part of this production. Generating hydropower mitigates the use of fossil fuels thus reducing Green House Gas emissions from some of the most polluting industries such as Coal Fired Powerplants. However, reservoirs used for this type of energy production may be highly polluting themselves. Production of methane and CO2 may be extensive from storage reservoirs. Current changes in precipitation patterns will bring in more organic material and nutrients to these reservoirs causing increases in GHG production as this material is broken down. And in the case of pump-storage reservoirs, artificial generation hydrology may be exacerbating this problem. In this chapter, I analyze current literature on the impact of reservoirs on GHG emissions. Further, I analyze my research on reservoir water quality looking at how this problem is worsening through time and how this may not be a sustainable energy when considering CO2 and methane production from these reservoirs. Ideas related to the unique operation of hydropower reservoirs, changes in water quality, precipitation norms and weather patterns are discussed.