Construction of a hydroelectric plant requires a long lead time for site studies, hydrological studies and environmental impact assessment, and are large-scale projects by comparison to traditional power generation based upon fossil fuels. The number of sites that can be economically developed for hydroelectric production is limited; new sites tend to be far from population centres 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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