The authors of this brief investigate three major aspects: the changing role of hydropower in the energy transition, challenges related to hydropower’s impacts on the freshwater environment, and how recent changes to governance frameworks can lead to new trade-offs between energy and biodiversity to consider. They offer policy recommendations addressing the main issues they see as necessary to address for improving hydropower planning processes.

Key messages

• Policymakers should recognize the need for a comprehensive approach to hydropower that balances environmental protection with renewable energy goals.
• A potential shift towards utilizing wind power as baseload and hydropower as a flexibility source will change flow release patterns from reservoirs and affect aquatic life.
• Increased hydropeaking levels may pose challenges to maintaining the ecological status of rivers, which are rich in biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• The knowledge gap of how major changes in the energy industry will potentially change hydropower reservoir operation practices and our river flows should be addressed.