Evaluation of hydropower potential for possible future industrial use, Nuuk area, West Greenland

Abstract

The potential of Greenland hydropower came into focus folIowing the energy crisis in 1973 and the subsequent demand for exploitation of Greenland's own energy resources. Investigations have been made since the mid-1970s on the feasibility of hydropower in Greenland. At first, emphasis was put upon large, or regional, basins that could supply new energy-intensive industries (GTO, 1975). During the 1980s, the emphasis changed to the so-called 'town basins' where hydropower would be developed to supplement the existing energy in selected Greenland towns. The first hydropower plant is under construction at the Kangerluarsunnguaq/Buksefjorden basin south-east of Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, to supply Nuuk with energy (Fig. 1). This hydropower plant is planned to come into operation in autumn 1993.