How (And Why) Europe Is Removing Its Dams

There is a lot of people not understanding what was said (maintly due to the video's fault) so I'll give a little explanation. They are removing OLD and SMALL damns, which were EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN, and were MORE TROUBLE THAN IT'S WORTH.

Those 3 little dams in Finland were inconsequential to flood control and electrical generation. Wise decision to remove them for the fish. Other dams throughout Europe have much more important missions as demonstrated by some deadly flooding.

Misleading intro to the video. Showing some of the largest, gargantuan dams in the Alps. Not a single one of them is being dismantled. The video only shows small weirs or small to medium river dams (even here not really big ones). None of the big dams of the Rhine or the Danube are being dismantled. Dismantling these megadams would ruin renewable energy endeavours and sabotage the relatively eco-friendly shipping lanes … the video is deceiving to the last minute. Not saying the renaturalising small rivers is a bad thing, but this is not what’s happening to the really big and important dams.

All dams have a lifetime, so it makes sense to remove them in a systemic way. Not all dams will be removed, but each one will be evaluated for various beneficial uses. PS — Appreciate how this video lays out the options.

It won't be a revolution until we find a way to create abundant renewable power. Here in Sweden 35-45% of our electricity comes from hydro plants. Solar and wind can produce some energy but not enough and not with a stable enough output that works for industry.

Removing derelict dams sounds good to me but operational and useful ones? That is a much harder sell but perhaps we will learn how worth it it is now! Also yeah updating and improving dams with fish ladders is a good plan as well

We made a camping trip around the Olympic Peninsula one spring. Both the Elwha and the Glines Canyon dams were still in place at that time. The videos were fascinating. We haven't made another trip after the removals. Maybe soon.

europe has 150 000 dams... europe has 155 000 obsolete damn. flawless

When you mentioned Ukraine, i started to think about destruction of Nova-Kakhovka dam, which completely drained huge reservoir leaving only a small portion of Dnipro‘s stream. BTW, this demolition wasn’t made in an eco-friendly way and caused massive destruction.

Europe wanting to speedrun deindustrialization.

"How (And Why) Europe Is Removing Its Dams" So they can re-discover why they built them in the first place.

Dam it It sure was a great Dam video

0:32 is the Vajont reservoir. The mountain above it collapsed and sent a wall of water down the valley wiping out various villages on the 9th of October 1963. More tha 2000 people died. Since then is has been inactive.

Meanwhile in Romania, companies pump entire rivers thought pipes just for the renewable energy grants they get for the construction 😢

And they replaced the power generation with nothing

Keep up the good work people!

I am concerned that many dams being removed will reduce hydroelectricity production. Which is more important, clean renewable hydropower or no electricity? Some day they might build a power plant of some type to replace the lost electrical power , but it will be years later, if ever. Don't forget these dams also provide drinking water and storm water storage. Some dams also allow for ships and barges to transport goods further inland. Fish ladders might be possible at some dams. There are dams that are no longer serving any purpose and are costly to repair or replace and should be removed. Each dam needs to be evaluated fully and not just because it's a man made structure.

In Europe it costs $750,000. In US it costs $750,000,000.

Was that a damn Dam revolution? grabs his coat...

Outstanding, we are doing the same in the states.