The Ukrainian Hydropower Industry from the Standpoint of the Social Welfare Function

Abstract

In the pre-nuclear era the contribution of the hydropower industry to the energy balance of the former USSR was considered undeniable. At the same time, accompanying negative effects (flooding of large areas, destruction of populated areas, violation of historical monuments, destruction of fish resources, growth of risks of man-made disasters) were not taken into account when creating reservoirs on flat terrain. Over time, as the main equipment (turbines, power generators) and the associated infrastructure (locks and their equipment) depreciates, the generation of hydroelectric power decreases both in absolute and relative terms, and the reservoir dams become an insurmountable barrier to river navigation. The main problems of hydropower engineering in terms of economic, ecological and technogenic risks are considered. For comparison, the forecast volumes of electric power production using renewable sources and hydropower are presented. The losses from the operation of the cascade of the Dnieper reservoirs are estimated.

Keywords

• hydropower
• public welfare function
• renewable energetics
• technogenic tsunami
• risks
• modeling