A comparison of environmental impacts of small hydroelectric plants and dams on Zayandehrood

Small hydroelectric power provides a small and important part of the industrial and domestic energy resources. Moreover, it presents the possibility usage of the minimum hydroelectric potential. Iran is going to be more progressed based on the dependence in the power industry and even in the electric exports to the other countries. The statistics till 2011 which include the use of 27.323 MW hydroelectric power capacity in micro section, two under construction projects of 11.5 MW, and three under review projects with 13.23 MW total energy, shows the flourishing nature of the hydroelectric energy. Furthermore, the disutility of this technology in the extensive project of Zayandehrood dams results in destructive environmental effects. In this study the environmental effects of the micro hydroelectric power foundation is investigated and compared with Zayandehrood dam project.