Pierre Bidermann, a French international expert in environmental and social issues with 25 years of experience, is a co-author of the EBRD's "Environmental and Social Guidance for Hydropower Projects," founder and lead researcher at the French consulting firm Alfage. He has directly contributed to the cumulative impact studies and micro and macroclimate research for the Bakhvi Hydropower Plant, as well as preparing the action plan for the project.
In the video interview produced under Bakhvi Hydropower Plant Pierre Bidermann discusses his research findings. He explains what cumulative impact means, why the Bakhvi Hydropower project will not affect the climate of Bakhmaro, and the benefits of hydropower projects in terms of reducing emissions. Here is the interview with the expert:
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_ Q: What were the results of the cumulative impact study for the Bakhvi 2 hydropower project?
Pierre Bidermann: We conducted a cumulative impact assessment for both the Bakhvi 1 and Bakhvi 2 hydropower projects in the Bakhvi River basin. The goal was to determine what additional impacts these projects might have in relation to other ongoing or planned initiatives. The study highlighted that one of the most significant aspects would be the coordination between different projects. If environmental issues are managed with coordination, agreed policies, and uniform standards, the potential impacts can be minimized.
_ Q: Is it possible to place multiple hydropower plants on the same river?
Pierre Bidermann: Placing multiple hydropower plants on the same river is a common practice worldwide, but it is crucial that they operate in coordination. Each project's goal should be to manage the river's water biodiversity and ensure that cumulative impacts are minimized. In the case of the Bakhvi River, only one species of fish, the trout, inhabits it. Therefore, preserving a suitable environment for the trout will be a major concern for these projects. If Bakhvi 1, Bakhvi 2, and Bakhvi 3 are managed with a unified environmental policy and standards, it will be much easier to protect and preserve biodiversity, which will be reflected in coordinated mitigation measures.
_ Q: Can you explain the function and principle of fish passes?
Pierre Bidermann: Each of the three hydropower plants should have a fish pass. It is essential that each fish pass operates effectively and that all three facilitate fish migration. If one section gets blocked, for example, if there is insufficient water flow or the river is obstructed by rocks or trees, it negates the effectiveness of the other two. This issue becomes problematic and impacts biodiversity. Therefore, coordination, unified policies, and management standards are necessary. Environmental protection managers at hydropower plants are responsible for ensuring standards are met and monitoring the functioning of fish passes. Managing the river's flow and ensuring adequate water flow are crucial for preserving water biodiversity
_ Q: What will your involvement be in ongoing projects moving forward?
Pierre Bidermann: I was involved in the development of the environmental plan for the Bakhvi 3 project and will continue to be actively involved in shaping the environmental and social aspects of the Bakhvi 1 and 2 projects to ensure compliance with IFC and EIB environmental and social standards and align mitigation measures with international standards. I will also focus on ensuring that all projects on the Bakhvi River adopt a joint approach to environmental management.
_ Q: How do hydropower plants contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
Pierre Bidermann: Small hydropower plants produce green energy as they do not emit harmful greenhouse gases that negatively impact climate change. The generation of electricity by hydropower plants is one way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We calculated the carbon dioxide emissions that would be produced if we used a thermal power plant of the same size instead of a hydropower plant.
- For Bakhvi 1, the project avoids 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to the amount produced by burning 8,000 tons of gasoline.
- For Bakhvi 2, the project avoids 55,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions from burning 24,000 tons of gasoline.
This is the benefit of small hydropower plants—they do not emit harmful greenhouse gases and are therefore a significant tool in the fight against climate change.
Pierre Bidermann: I believe that building hydropower plants has many benefits for Georgia. It is important to note that Georgia is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, under which over 150 countries have committed to gradually transitioning to renewable energy sources. This, in turn, implies reducing harmful emissions and addressing climate change challenges. The abundance of renewable resources also means reducing Georgia’s dependence on neighboring countries for electricity imports.