Hydropower as a Clean and Renewable Energy Source and Its Role in Achieving Sustainable Development

Abstract

The increasing demand for energy on one hand, and the need to preserve the environment on the other, necessitate the search for new energy sources and their efficient utilization. The global energy crisis has led to the establishment of companies specializing in renewable energy, investing millions of dollars in developing technologies aimed at this goal. Numerous studies have been conducted in universities and research centers, and notable scientists and business figures have emerged, alongside international conferences organized under the guidance of policymakers to explore alternatives to conventional energy sources.

This became particularly evident in the 1970s during the energy crisis of 1973 and the Arab oil embargo, which stimulated research and initiatives focused on finding alternatives to petroleum. The transition to new energy sources is part of a historical trend, as humanity has gradually shifted from relying on wood, to coal, and then to oil. Hydropower is considered one of the most promising renewable sources, capable of meeting growing human energy needs while preserving the environment from pollution. Therefore, it is essential to develop this resource to contribute more effectively to the global energy structure, with industrialized and developing countries collaborating to reassess their resources, provide financial and technical support, and implement major hydropower projects, while addressing all issues arising in river basins.

The future of energy will largely depend on technological advancements, particularly the ability to control and transmit electricity over long distances, similar to current oil and gas networks. Projects such as harnessing the waterfalls of the Congo River and transmitting their energy to Europe via the Sahara and the Mediterranean, reaching Italy, are considered vital and economically feasible, with political stability being the primary challenge in production and transmission regions.