Europe |
Switzerland: the European water vessel
Switzerland, the cradle of Europe’s majestic rivers, confronts a changing climate that threatens its vital waterways. As the nation’s iconic dams and innovative water management strategies emerge as its shield against climate impact, the spotlight falls on the transformative power of the Nant de Drance pumped storage plant, together with other new developments in the country
Emosson Dam Courtesy of Alpiq
NESTLED AMONG THE PICTURESQUE Swiss Alps, Switzerland has long been hailed as Europe’s water vessel, with its majestic rivers – the Rhine, the Rhone, the Inn, and the Ticino – coursing through its valleys and nourishing distant lands like the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. For centuries, these waterways have been vital arteries of life and commerce. However, as the world confronts the harsh realities of climate change, even the Swiss have come to recognize that water, once considered an inexhaustible resource, is facing unprecedented challenges. In recent years, Switzerland’s weather patterns have been shifting dramatically. The signs are clear: prolonged droughts parch the land, iconic Alpine glaciers are receding at an alarming pace, and intense rainfall triggers destructive flooding and debris flows. These events are not isolated incidents; they are the harbingers of a changing climate that demands urgent adaptation. At the heart of this adaptation lies the crucial practice of water resource management. Switzerland’s iconic dams have emerged as pivotal
players in the country’s water resource management strategy. Amidst this evolving landscape, hydroelectric power producers and dam operators are at the forefront of the battle to safeguard both energy production and the environment. In a blog published by Alpiq, Amédée Murisier, the Head of Hydro Power Generation at the company, delved into the transformative shifts unfolding in the realm of water resource management.
Impacts of climate change The summer of 2022 brought haunting images: the
Gebidem Dam’s overflow contrasted sharply with the nearly desiccated Lake Salanfe, merely 80km away. Is this the face of things to come? Murisier warns that longer droughts, unpredictable heatwaves across all seasons, and snow-starved winters could well become the new normal. While total precipitation might not dwindle significantly, its distribution and form are undergoing a profound transformation. Switzerland, it seems, is feeling the impacts of climate change more acutely than many other regions. Murisier’s tone grows somber as he discusses the stark findings of climate scientists’ models. The “eternal ice” of the Alps is disappearing at an alarming rate, with a possibility of near-complete glacial loss by century’s end. The numbers are staggering: a shocking 6 percent mass loss from alpine glaciers in just one summer. The imperative is clear – immediate action
18 | September 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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