Hydropower Projects Research Articles

Spatially resolved glacial meltwater retainment in glacial lakes exerts increasing impacts in High Mountain Asia

Most of glacial lakes hold glacial meltwater in summer, and have shown a trend of expansion in recent decades. However, few studies have distinguished the amount of meltwater from the total water nourishment of these lakes. We quantified the retained glacial meltwater in glacial lakes by comparing the water balance of glacier-fed and non-glacier-fed lakes in High Mountain Asia (HMA). Results showed that 8.18 ± 0.64 Gt of meltwater was retained by 8115 (∼44 %) of the glacier-fed lakes in HMA from 1990 to 2020 and the annual contribution of glacier melt in HMA to sea-level rise may have therefore been overestimated by ∼1.5 %. In the glaciation zones, the retained meltwater from glaciers was 6.94 × 103 m3/km2 with a spatial variability over the past 30 years from 0.40 × 103 to 25.29 × 103 m3/km2 across different subregions. Retained glacial meltwater substantially contributed to the increased volume in glacier-fed lakes with an average contribution rate of 92 % across different subregions of HMA. Moreover, retained glacial meltwater was a substantial portion of the regional water resource and represented ∼5.6 % of the annual eco-water demand in the glaciation zones in HMA. A total of 21.66 ± 0.43 Gt of water was stored in 4209 (∼23 %) glacial meltwater impounded lakes with an outburst potential, threatening ∼51 % of the hydropower projects in HMA.

Pathways to decolonize North-South relations around energy transition

Climate coloniality manifests in the violent appropriation of territories in the Global South, including the extraction of strategic minerals such as copper and molybdenum to service energy transition and green growth for the major world powers. Peasant communities in the Intag river valley in Ecuador have been resisting large-scale mining for decades and, thus, have built up a local solidarity economy as a livelihood alternative. This includes communitarian hydropower projects at different scales, which are designed not only to provide families with extra income or jobs but also to build virtuous circles that avoid deforestation, protect biodiversity, and strengthen relations in all their dimensions: within communities, with nature, and with organized actors in the Global North who recognize and wish to cancel their climate debt.

Assessment of the feasibility of Aku small hydropower project using RETscreen Energy Model Software

The RETScreen 4 software was used in this study to conduct the analysis to determine the viability of the river Aku hydropower plant in Uturu, Abia State. The study was carried out using data from Ivo river dam authority, previous studies and literatures. The result of the study showed that the Aku river could generate an annual energy of 6,434,000kWh and will be able to payback its project cost at 6.3 years. The estimated annual GHG reduction of the project stood at 4,310.7tCo2 an equivalent of 1,852,317 litres of gasoline not used. The sensitivity/risk analysis indicated that electricity export rate (electricity sales price), initial cost and debt interest rate impacted the project profitability the most in that order. The project NPV is sensitive to both the debt interest rate and the initial cost of the project as variation in cost above 30% will throw the project into a negative NPV. In the light of the available information, the project is feasible if implemented.

Multitemporal landslide inventory and susceptibility map for the Arun River Basin, Nepal

AbstractThe transboundary Arun River Basin (ARB) spreads across Nepal and Tibet. Nearly 95% of the basin lies in Tibet through which the Pumqu River flows, forming the Arun River once it enters Nepal. The ARB has five large hydropower projects undergoing construction or planned for the future. Rainfall and earthquake‐induced landslides, landslide‐dammed lakes and landslide‐induced glacial lake outburst floods pose major risks to smooth operation of these projects. To safeguard upcoming hydropower projects, areas susceptible to landslides in the ARB must be identified. We used high‐resolution satellite imagery and open‐source tools to generate a multitemporal landslide inventory for the basin. The rigorously quality‐controlled inventory represents a yearly record of landslides from 2011 to 2020. A data‐driven approach was used to map areas susceptible to landslides within the ARB. The multitemporal landslide inventory combined with other readily available Earth observation‐based variables was used to create a landslide susceptibility map. The susceptibility analysis provides a valuable initial estimate of where landslides are likely to initiate. These landslide products could form the basis of more comprehensive local studies to inform hydropower project development.

Avoiding ecosystem and social impacts of hydropower, wind, and solar in Southern Africa’s low-carbon electricity system

The scale at which low-carbon electricity will need to be deployed to meet economic growth, electrification, and climate goals in Africa is unprecedented, yet the potential land use and freshwater impacts from this massive build-out of energy infrastructure is poorly understood. In this study, we characterize low-impact onshore wind, solar photovoltaics, and hydropower potential in Southern Africa and identify the cost-optimal mix of electricity generation technologies under different sets of socio-environmental land use and freshwater constraints and carbon targets. We find substantial wind and solar potential after applying land use protections, but about 40% of planned or proposed hydropower projects face socio-environmental conflicts. Applying land and freshwater protections results in more wind, solar, and battery capacity and less hydropower capacity compared to scenarios without protections. While a carbon target favors hydropower, the amount of cost-competitively selected hydropower is at most 45% of planned or proposed hydropower capacity in any scenario—and is only 25% under socio-environmental protections. Achieving both carbon targets and socio-environmental protections results in system cost increases of 3-6%. In the absence of land and freshwater protections, environmental and social impacts from new hydropower development could be significant.

FERC, hydropower, and tribal rights: Confrontations at the Little Colorado River

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is well positioned to help advance the United States' clean energy transition through their management of energy projects. One obstacle to achieving the transition is meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations. Following decades of conflict between tribes and FERC regarding infrastructure development, the agency issued a "policy statement on consultation with Indian tribes" in 2003. The Policy acknowledges FERC's trust responsibility to tribes and seeks to work on a "government to government" basis with them, and recent amendments explicitly incorporate treaty rights into FERC's decision-making processes. Despite these interventions, tensions between FERC and tribes continue over the persistent lack of consultation and omission of government-to-government discussions regarding proposed hydropower. In this article, we question the application of FERC's decision-making powers as they intersect with tribal sovereignty via a discourse analysis of 'consultation.' The article applies an ethnographic perspective to explore the 'political' in political ecology and assess FERC's role in licensing the Big Canyon project, a proposed closed-looped pump hydropower project in Navajo Nation in Arizona. The project was proposed in 2020 without adequate consultation with the affected Diné peoples, illuminating significant gaps between FERC's stated policy on consultation and its operationalization. Compounding the situation further, the Big Canyon project would exacerbate human-water relationships by diminishing groundwaters in an area already facing aridification, thereby challenging the health of springs that feed the Little Colorado River, provide habitat for protected species, and are sacred to many Indigenous peoples. Studying the intersection of tribal rights and FERC presents a critical juncture for assessing the underlying power dynamics of decision-making processes regarding pumped storage hydropower in the United States, within the broad context of a clean energy transition. 

Rock Mass Structure Classification of Caves Based on the 3D Rock Block Index

In large-scale water conservancy and hydropower projects, complex rock structures are considered to be the main factor controlling the stability of hydraulic structures. The classification of rock mass structure plays an important role in the safety of all kinds of large buildings, especially underground engineering buildings. As a quantitative classification index of rock mass, the rock block index is very common in the classification of borehole and dam foundation rock mass structures. However, there are few studies on the classification of underground engineering rock masses. Moreover, their classification criteria have disadvantages in spatial dimension. Therefore, this paper takes the long exploratory cave CPD1 in the water transmission and power generation system of the Qingtian pumped storage power station in Zhejiang Province as the research object and launches a study on the structural classification of the rock mass of a flat cave based on the 3D rock block index. According to the group distribution of joints, the sections are statistically homogeneous. Additionally, the Monte Carlo method is used to carry out random simulations to generate a three-dimensional joint network model. The virtual survey lines are arranged along the center of the shape of the three different orthogonal planes of the 3D joint network model to represent the boreholes, and the RBI values of the virtual survey lines on each orthogonal plane are counted to classify the rock mass structure of the flat cave in a refined manner using the rock block index of the rock mass in 3D. The above method realizes the application of the 3D rock block index in underground engineering and overcomes the limitations of traditional rock mass classification methods in terms of classification index and dimension. The results show that: (1) Three-dimensional joint network simulations built on statistical and probabilistic foundations can visualize the structure of the rock mass and more accurately reflect the structural characteristics of the actual rock mass. (2) Based on the 3D rock block index, the rock mass structure of the long-tunnel CPD1 is classified, from that of a continuous structure to a blocky structure, corresponding to the integrity of the rock mass from complete to relatively complete. The classification results are consistent with the evaluation results of horizontal tunnel seismic wave geophysical exploration. (3) Based on the 3D joint network model, it is reasonable and feasible to use the 3D rock block index as a quantitative evaluation index to determine the structure type of flat cave rock masses. The above method is helpful and significant in the classification of underground engineering rock mass structures.

Forensic Investigations of Concrete Degradation: Case Study of a Hydropower Project

Forensic Investigations of Concrete Degradation: Case Study of a Hydropower Project

Internationalizing Chinese standards through infrastructure experimentation: Engineering a pumped storage hydropower project in Israel

This ethnographic study examines the implementation of Chinese engineering standards in a multinational pumped storage hydropower project in Israel. Using an ethnographic approach, the study investigates how Chinese standards are negotiated, accepted or rejected within local engineering practice and how Chinese engineers experience the international adoption of their knowledge. We find that although the adoption of Chinese practice-based standards lags behind Western principle-based knowledge in institutional spheres, the gap between the two has started to narrow on an individual level. We also show how the personal lives of Chinese engineers are affected by, and, in turn, have an impact on the standard practices of Belt and Road Initiative projects. The international adoption of Chinese standards is a multi-layered process of infrastructure experimentation on the ground rather than a top–down slogan. Our research broadens the discussion of engineering standards in energy transition and highlights how knowledge and practice flow, or fail to flow, from the infrastructure periphery to its centre, potentially reshaping global energy construction paradigms.

Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Preservation: The Case of a Proposed Hydropower Project in Southern Iceland

When decision makers use a financial approach to review the costs and benefits of new renewable energy projects, the economic value of changes in social welfare resulting from impacts on natural resources is not included in the analysis. Iceland’s policy objective for carbon neutrality by 2040 will require constructing new power plants. This study aimed to estimate the economic preservation value for the Hólmsá and Tungufljót river basins in southern Iceland using the contingent valuation method. A web-based survey of Icelandic residents was conducted between 13 November 2022 and 19 December 2022 using a stratified random sample of 2909 adults. The response rate was 46.6%, with 35.1% of respondents indicating a willingness to pay (WTP) to protect the area from hydropower development. After excluding protest voters and accounting for those with and without WTP, the estimated mean WTP equaled ISK 5515. When scaled to the adult population of Icelandic residents, that equates to a total environmental and social cost of between ISK 1.52 and 1.70 billion. Compared to the estimated levelized cost of energy for the Hólmsárvirkjun at Atley hydropower project, this aggregation equates to an estimated 5.6% markup in total project costs, excluding transmission lines. Accounting for these economic costs in decision making allows for a more holistic understanding of new energy project costs and net present benefits.

Transboundary hydropower projects: allocation of competence and cooperation between the federation and its federating units in Switzerland

(i) The Swiss Constitution places cantons (federating units) in charge of managing all water uses. At the same time, it gives the federation decision-making authority over transboundary water uses, including for hydropower purposes. (ii) It further mandates the Federation to consult and consider the concerns and interests of the affected cantons when deciding on transboundary hydropower projects. (iii) Aside from the possibility of intertwining competence between the Federation and cantons on the transboundary hydropower project, the situation creates ambiguity around the obligation to consult between parties on such projects. (iv) Cooperation in good faith in implementing relevant procedural rules of consultation between parties seems to be the most promising approach to finding solutions acceptable to all.

3D Numerical Model Validation Using Experimental Test Data for Patrind Hydropower Project

Whilst numerical modelling is commonly used for simulation to check the design of water conveyance, sluicing and spillway structure design, the numerical modelling has rarely been compared with the physical model tests. The objective of this research presented in this paper was to examine the validity and suitability of the numerical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling method within an ANSYS Fluent/CFD R 18.2 software and compare its results with a fully instrumented and well-run physical model test at the 1:45 scale, carried out for Patrind Hydropower Project located in Pakistan. The physical model test was conducted for confirmation and optimization of a natural de-sanding basin, and diversion of suspended sediment-rich flood waters using a bypass tunnel. The numerical simulation was able to reproduce physical model test results and data gathered over a 7-year project operation to an acceptable level of accuracy. A detailed explanation of the approach used in numerical modelling together with analysis of simulation diagrams of ANSYS Fluent/CFD is also presented. The research shows that a 3D numerical model with accurate boundary conditions and mesh size can replace the need for physical model tests.

Assessing the existing guidelines of environmental impact assessment and mitigation measures for future hydropower projects in Pakistan

Introduction: More than 16% of the total electricity used worldwide is met by hydropower, having local to regional environmental consequences. With positive indicators that energy is becoming more broadly available and sustainable, the world is moving closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). Pakistan became the first nation to include the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its national development strategy.Methodology: The current study sought to investigate the structural limits of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) guidelines for hydropower development in Pakistan. The study included the document review of the EIA reports about hydropower projects in Pakistan, scientific questionnaires from decision-makers, and public consultation.Results and Discussion: The document evaluates that an adequate mechanism is available, and donors like the Asian Development Bank and World Bank observe the implementation process of EIA in Pakistan. However, a comprehensive analysis of the EIA system found several things that could be improved, not only in the institutional framework but also in actual implementation and practices. More than 20% of respondent decision-makers disagreed with the compliance of the current Institutional Framework with EIA guidelines, and 25% think that the existing guidelines followed in Pakistan are not aligned with international standards and practices for Hydropower in actual practice. EIA has a limited impact on decision-making due to insufficient technical and financial resources.Recommendations: There should be a think tank with experts who can meet the needs of present and future epochs. The public should be communicated with and educated about EIA. For better efficiency, the officers and decision-makers should be trained internationally, i.e., the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).

Model studies for desilting basin for Teesta-VI H.E. project, Sikkim – a case study

Desilting basins play an important role in run-of-river hydro power projects on Himalayan Rivers. These rivers carry huge amount of sediment with them, due to steep slopes and fragile geology of the region. The suspended sediment enters through the power intake and ultimately the power house. This causes heavy damage to the turbines and other under water parts. Therefore, desilting basins are provided to eliminate suspended sediment from the water conductor system. The design of desilting basin is verified on a physical model for 90% removal of suspended sediment coarser than 0.2 or 0.3 mm and efficacy of flushing tunnel below in transporting the settled sediment. Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune has conducted physical model studies for desilting basin for various hydro power projects in India and neighbouring countries. One such study, Hydraulic model studies for desilting basin for 500 MW Teesta-VI Hydro Electric Project, Sikkim is presented in this paper. Various design parameters such as length of desilting basin, length and bed slope of inlet transition, outlet transition, size of silt flushing tunnel, size and spacing of openings connecting main basin with silt flushing tunnel etc. were tested during the model studies. The results in terms of settling efficiency for 0.3 mm size particles were obtained.

Land cover changes and hydropower in Bhutan: Analyzing trade-offs in economic and ecosystem impacts

Hydropower is recognized as a vital renewable, stable and clean energy source that plays a crucial role in sustainable development. However, it often entails significant environmental impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in mountainous regions where its potential is greatest. This study assesses the land cover changes driven by the development of hydropower projects in Bhutan, specifically the projects Punatsangchu I, II, and Mangdechu, with a combined capacity of 2940 MWp. We employed high-resolution satellite imagery alongside historical land use data to quantify these changes. Our analysis reveals that over the course of around 17 years, 1400 ha of forest and 270 ha of agricultural land were cleared, leading to an average annual economic cost of USD 7.6 million. The relative forest cover loss, measured at 0.5 ha MWp−1, was significantly lower than earlier estimates of 2 ha MWp−1. The construction of transmission lines, often a neglected aspect, accounted for the majority (>80 %) of the forest area cleared. Conducting an economic analysis, the annual net benefits of hydropower generation and transmission from these plants are estimated at USD 217 million, about 9 % of Bhutan's 2020 GDP. However, these benefits significantly diminish to USD 8.6 million annually when only considering the transmission infrastructure. The study reveals that the trade-offs between the economic benefits of hydropower and the loss of ecosystem services are relatively modest but become more pronounced when excluding generation benefits and applying higher values to ecosystem services. Although the study assumes a complete loss of ecosystem services, the creation of transmission line corridors contributes to a higher landscape heterogeneity potentially benefitting biodiversity. The findings have significant implications for Bhutan's policy-making in spatial planning, energy, forestry, and agriculture, and highlight areas for further research on hydropower's environmental and economic impacts.

Climate Extremes and Sustainability Issues: A Case of Proposed Hydropower Projects in Lahaul Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Water and energy are the key to development; however, a great deal of contestation is at the very core of hydropower and sustainability debate in the context climate change and risk of disasters. A vast potential for renewable energy in the Himalayas has led to planning for hydropower projects since 1990s. However, social, economic and environmental issues linked to such development has also led to a fear among local communities in light of climate change. This study analysed the relation between climate extremes, disaster risk and hydropower development in Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh. The study examined long-term climate data for precipitation and temperature trends while daily rainfall gridded data was used for the analysis of climate extremes. The results show statistically significant increase in precipitation intensity and rise of winter and post winter temperature. Also, heavy and very heavy rainfall days, daily rainfall intensity shows increasing trends that may have serious repercussions on local economy, livelihood and hydropower development. The field observations reveal discontentment of local population to proposed development. It is important that this debate must be reviewed logically to ensure safe future of the area with sound understanding of disasters and climate change risk.

Characteristics and mechanism of large deformation of a reservoir colluvial landslide-a case study of the Yulinerzu landslide in Xiluodu Reservoir, China

The reactivation of colluvial landslides in reservoir banks poses a serious threat to the safety of hydropower projects and nearby towns. This study aims to research the morphological evolution of this type of landslides under the action of reservoir water and the impact of morphological evolution on landslide stability. The study focused on the Yulinerzu landslide, a large reactivated colluvial landslide in the Xiluodu Reservoir, China. Field surveys were conducted to analyze the geological structure of the landslide. In situ monitoring and surveys were used to obtain the deformation characteristics and morphological evolution of the landslide. A combined seepage-slope stability analysis was conducted to reveal the deformation mechanism. The results show that the reactivation of the Yulinerzu landslide is dominated by reservoir water fluctuations rather than rainfall. The underlying geological condition of the colluvial landslide is its hydrogeological structure, which causes the landslide to deform in a step-like manner during reservoir operation. With the accumulation of displacement and morphology evolution, the landslide displayed self-stabilizing characteristics. Therefore, in the stability analysis and risk assessment of large deformation landslides, it is essential to take into account not only the hydraulic effects of reservoir fluctuation but also the evolution of landslide morphology.

Transnational governance standards in ensuring sustainable development and operation of hydropower projects in transboundary basins

The notion of “transnational” law encompasses a sophisticated corpus of globally applicable rules, standards and safeguards, often informal in origin, which are widely accepted around the world and supported across a range of business sectors and civil society constituencies. The recent proliferation of such “transnational” law extends to the hydropower sector, where normative standards and safeguards increasingly apply to promote and certify sustainable practices in the development and operation of hydropower projects. Such projects are associated with significant environmental and social impacts and the projected increase in hydropower investments, mainly in emerging economies, will require effective supplemental regulatory tools. Many such projects will be located in, or impact upon, international rivers, thereby adding a further layer of complexity regarding their effective regulation and increased the risk of inter-State disputes over the equitable use of shared waters. Such complexity and risk will be exacerbated by increased uncertainty due to climate change. Thus, the existence of widely accepted transnational standards, which are relevant and applicable to hydropower development globally, can play a key role in building trust between watercourse States and in promoting greater transboundary water cooperation. This article explores the potential role of transnational standards in improved regulation of environmental and social impacts associated with hydropower projects located on international watercourses and the extent to which such standards cohere with established and emerging requirements of international water law. It thus examines the synergies arising between these informal and formal regulatory frameworks with a view to developing a better understanding of their interaction in practice. In so doing, it focuses on two key categories of applicable transnational regime: a sustainability certification and labeling scheme dedicated to hydropower projects and operated by the Hydropower Sustainability Council; and MDB environmental and social safeguard standards imposed upon major water-related projects, including hydropower projects, particularly those adopted by the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Common Causes of Construction Claims in Hydropower Projects: Case Studies of Selected Medium Scale Hydropower Projects in Nepal

Common Causes of Construction Claims in Hydropower Projects: Case Studies of Selected Medium Scale Hydropower Projects in Nepal

Study on mechanism of blocked water transport of the navigation and hydropower projects of Guizhou Province

On the basis of comprehensive investigations of reasons to result in different efficiency not only in civil but also in abroad countries, combined with specific situation of navigation and hydropower projects of Guizhou Province, the mechanism corresponding to the organization is established roughly via the following measures: to follow the thinking and requirements of CMM and ISO system and to apply them to daily management; the factors to cause problem of blocked water transport of the navigation and hydropower projects to be explored, the reasons were studied to find out the methods which can finally overcome these difficulties; to analysis the measures which can improve the management efficiency and to study the reasons which hind behind them. On the conditions to start the whole equipment and scientific method possessed by the navigation and hydropower projects of Guizhou Province, the scheme of mechanism system suitable to navigation and hydropower projects of Guizhou Province is roughly developed, which has the quantitative, traceable, and continuous improvement properties. The studied results may be valuable to other similar mountain river cases in other places.