The Influence of Climate Change on the Use of Hydro Power in Germany

Climate Change has a high influence on the energy production and the earning of hydro power plants. On basis of the existing evaluations there will be a minor production of hydro power in Germany. In the near future the production will decrease about 1 to 4% and in the further future about 15%. Computer simulations for selected water-power plants at the rivers Rhine, Lech and Main demonstrate that their earning responses sensitively to variabilities of water supply. According to the circumstances the variability balances from +9% to -9 %.To counterbalance possible minor productions of hydro power it is recommended to use the existent potential to optimize the plants and to improve operation and maintenance.