Case study - Response to rising demands, The Three Gorges Project, China

Question 1

HEP where and why?

Answer 1

1. Along Yangtze River, world’s largest HEP scheme, was completed in 2009
2. China believes HEP is clean energy which it can support their rapid industrial growth
3. However, social+environment costs of using source of energy already apparent

Question 2

Benefits

Answer 2

1. 18,000 mv of water generated electricity could save 50 mil tonnes of coal each year
2. project will supply water to region responsible for 22% of China’s GDP
3. Flood protection could save many lives + cut financial losses created by flood damage
4. navigational improvements could help open up interior region of China to development

Question 3

Costs

Answer 3

1. dammed water will drown 100,000 hectares of arable land, 13 cities + many smaller settlements + 1,500 factories
2. est 1.9 mil people will be displaced from their homes and lose their land
3. dam failure, earthquakes,heavy rains + even terrorism pose safety risks
4. ecological impacts on fisheries,biodiversity,habitats are huge
5. pollution will increase as abandoned mines+factories flooded
6. important archaeological + other heritage sites will be lost
7. River has worlds 5th largest sediment load - sediment would damage turbines + become trapped behind dam, raising water levels and reducing soil fertility downstream