Update: The Lower Snake River Reservoirs Generate Significant Amounts of Methane, a Potent Greenhouse Gas

July 2020
By John Twa, Mechanical Engineer

Scientists are increasingly studying and recognizing the significant amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from hydropower reservoirs.

“[N]umerous studies have demonstrated that hydropower reservoirs have the potential to produce high amounts of [methane], despite initially being considered carbon-free energy sources”.

In fact, ten percent of reservoirs have emission factors larger than the CO2 emissions from natural gas combined cycling plants

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