Hydroelectric plant construction requires a long time for site studies, hydrological studies and environmental impact assessments, and is a large-scale project compared to conventional fossil fuel-based power generation. The number of economically developed sites for hydropower generation is limited. New sites are further away from population centers and usually require extensive power transmission lines. Hydroelectric generation can be vulnerable to major changes in the climate, including variation of rainfall, ground and surface water levels and glacial melt, causing additional expenditure for the extra capacity to ensure that sufficient power is available in low water years.
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