Hydropower: The Water Footprint of Hydropower Production—State of the Art and Methodological Challenges (Global Challenges 5/2017)

Solbergfoss Hydropower Plant is one of several run‐of‐the‐river plants developed in a cascade on the main stem in the lower part of Glomma river, the longest river in Norway, all benefitting from the same upstream regulations. Water consumption from hydropower production is primarily due to evaporation from reservoir surfaces, hence reducing the annual flow downstream. At the same time reservoirs increase the water availability in dry periods. In article number 1600018 by Tor Haakon Bakken,* Ånund Killingtveit, and Knut Alfredsen the state of art within this field of science is reviewed. The review documents water consumption estimates that show a large variation and a methodology that does not capture all the specifics of hydropower technology. Photo: Tor Haakon Bakken [Image: see text]