Retreating glaciers are releasing areas that could be used as possible sites for reservoirs, especially as natural lakes often already emerge here.
Additional water catchments and reservoirs in glacier forelands would be an option for realising the energy generation objectives stipulated under Energy Strategy 2050 with hydropower.
With seven new power plants at high Alpine sites, an additional 1.1 terawatt hours (TWh) could be produced each year. The energy content of the new reservoirs, which is important for the winter months, would even total 1.3 TWh.
The level of objection to such new infrastructures is likely to be considerable, however. This is because six of the locations are situated in protected areas.
In addition to the lack of acceptance, there are also technical challenges. Glaciers transport large quantities of sediment that have to be taken into account during the planning of new power plants. Computer models from the research project help here.

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