Concerns have been raised that small plants are being built for profit without any regard for the local community and local eco-systems. In the region, some 2,700 hydropower plants are envisaged in the coming years. In addition to the 21,387 existing hydropower plants, another 8,779 are planned, mainly in the Alps and the Balkans. According to the report, this proliferation could destroy previously untouched rivers especially in the Balkans. “If you will build hundreds or thousands of small hydropower plants on your rivers, you can just lose everything in very few years,” he said.

Source: Washington Post November 28, 2019 15:56 UTC