Análise integrada dos impactos ambientais de usinas hidrelétricas

Abstract

For more than a century the energy generated in hydroelectric plants is considered clean due to the non-emission of greenhouse gases. However, nowadays, studies have shown that the environmental and social costs of the implementation of these projects are considerably high and despite the energy efficiency, this system is far from generating a socio-environmentally responsible energy. In this sense, energies recognized as renewable are not always exempt from the environmental impacts arising from their use. The objective of the study was to develop an integrated method to identify and assess the importance of the main environmental impacts generated by hydroelectric projects, based on the environmental licensing processes at the federal level. The method involved the development of an interaction network and a checklist for use in Environmental Impact Studies of federal licensing processes and were created from the analysis of 8 processes of hydroelectric plants. There are several identified physical, biotic and socio-economic impacts, which vary according to the installation location. For the checklist, 15 physical impacts, 20 biotic impacts and 19 socioeconomic impacts were included. Nine interaction networks were created that pointed out the connectivity between the impacts. Some of the potential impacts can be considered common to all developments, while others are site-dependent. These elements demonstrate the importance of using methodologies aimed at improving existing processes.