BUND nature conservation starts protest: 16,000 votes against Salzach power plant!

BUND nature conservation starts protest: 16,000 votes against Salzach power plant!

The BUND Nature Conservation (BN) in Bavaria has developed into a central player under the protection of the environment by collecting more than 16,000 signatures against the construction of a new hydropower plant on the Salzach River. The planned location is located in the Tittmoninger Basin and the arguments of the environmentalists are diverse. The BN fears that the power plant would have harmful effects on the fish populations that could restrict water level dynamics in the floodplain and cause a backlog of water. These concerns are underpinned by the assessments of BN water expert Christine Margraf, who also considers the benefits of the project for the energy industry to be questionable.

The Salzach itself is unique in Bavaria because it flows over 60 kilometers without crossbuards. Beate Rutkowski, deputy chairwoman of the BN, indicates that there is significant potential for a large -scale renaturation of the floodplains. In particular, the BUND nature conservation calls on the state government and Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) to invest more in renaturation projects instead of approving new hydropower plants.

advantages and disadvantages of hydropower

The discussion about the hydropower plant on the Salzach is part of a larger debate about the advantages and disadvantages of hydropower use. According to information from environmental rescuers, hydropower is used the most worldwide because it hardly releases greenhouse gases. The historical potential of this form of energy ranges up to 3000 BC. BC when it was used in China for irrigation systems. Despite the advantages, hydropower plants often require massive interventions in nature and can have significant ecological effects.

The Federal Environment Agency emphasizes that hydropower plants can interrupt the biological and morphodynamic continuity of water, which has serious consequences for the flora and fauna there. Studies show that more than 22% of fish swimming through turbines suffer fatal injuries. The recommended use of hydropower should therefore take place, taking into account sensitive natural spaces and with targeted measures to reduce the environmental impact.

use of hydropower in Germany

In Germany, hydropower is mainly used in low mountain ranges, pre -Alps and Alps as well as on larger rivers. The proportion of hydropower in electricity generation from renewable energies is around 8%. Despite its potential, the benefit of hydropower is often critically questioned due to climatic changes and the currently known ecological challenges.

The BN makes it clear that the focus should be on the expansion of wind and solar energy instead of building new hydropower plants. This underlines the basic debate about the right way to a sustainable energy future.

FAZ reports that the BN in its position primarily puts the protection of the unique water landscape and the regional biodiversity in the foreground. The association sees the possibility of not only protecting nature through renaturation projects, but also promoting a transition to more sustainable energy generation.