Integrating Energy and Water Management in a Low Mountain Region: A Project for Coupled Ecosystem Services

A novel approach to integrating energy and water management in low mountain regions demonstrates how infrastructure projects can provide coupled ecosystem services, addressing critical challenges such as flood protection, low-water mitigation, and drinking water production. The study, conducted in the Upper Harz Mountains of Northern Germany, highlights the potential of repurposing existing dams and underground mining infrastructure for pumped storage to stabilize energy grids or produce green hydrogen. Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), researchers evaluate multiple project alternatives based on geological constraints, construction costs, resource consumption, and ecological impacts, offering a transparent, participatory framework for decision-making that transcends traditional market-based metrics. This method allows stakeholders to assess how alternative weightings influence outcomes, facilitating effective communication in citizen participation processes.

Menges, R., & Eckenfels, F. (2024). Integrating Energy and Water Management in a Low Mountain Region: A Project for Coupled Ecosystem Services. Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems, 12(4), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.13044/j.sdewes.d12.0521