Hydro

Hydroelectricity harnesses the power of falling water to produce electricity. In reservoir-based hydro, a dam is built across a river to create a reservoir. When water is released from the reservoir, it passes through a turbine which is connected to a generator. High voltage transmission lines take this energy to a station that controls the energy flow to homes and businesses.

On Haida Gwaii
A 6MW reservoir-based hydroelectric generation station at Gawu Kuns Siiwaay ‘Yuujuu Moresby Lake (Mitchell Inlet) built in 1990 provides up to 80% of energy for the south grid of Haida Gwaii.

Advantages
Hydro projects can produce energy for 50-100 years and does not waste or deplete water sources.

Considerations
Hydro projects, especially large projects, can have significant social and ecological impacts including the flooding of Indigenous homelands, food-producing land, and important wildlife areas. They can also produce GHGs since carbon dioxide and methane are released when vegetation decomposes under water. These social and ecological impacts can be reduced by refurnishing existing projects and building smaller hydro projects, with community support and ownership.