Large-scale Hydropower Projects Research Articles

Social impacts of large-scale hydropower project in Myanmar: a social life cycle assessment of Shweli hydropower dam 1

Hydropower is currently the primary renewable energy source for Myanmar. However, hydropower projects can cause direct and indirect detrimental impacts on the livelihoods of populations. Social impacts of planned hydropower projects should therefore be assessed. In this paper, we report on the application of a Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) for evaluating social and human rights impacts of hydropower construction, operation and maintenance, and transportation of materials. S-LCA is capable of assessing multiple social stressors and tracking different impact categories within potentially disturbed communities. Both direct and indirect interaction between stakeholders and social impacts at every stage of a project can be evaluated. An existing large-scale hydropower dam in the Ayeyarwady River, Shweli hydropower dam 1, is used in this paper as an example for analysis. Results indicate the magnitude and intensity of social and human right impacts caused by the Shweli hydropower dam 1 in Myanmar. The dam gives rise to a series of negative impacts while offering little to no tangible benefits to local people and society. Overall, the most commonly held view expressed by stakeholders was that the dam did not offer the promised social and economic benefits. The weakest social performance was observed in the governance and socio-economic repercussion categories. A number of important socio-economic impacts are identified, offering useful insights to energy, ecosystem services, and land use policy makers. The results offer opportunities to examine potential impacts of forthcoming hydropower projects in the region and create long-term socio-economic benefits.

Rescuing responsible hydropower projects

Given the still-growing use of coal and natural gas in generating electricity in many developing countries, it is necessary to put far more effort into promoting responsible large-scale hydropower projects. In contrast to hydro, solar and wind power face physical constraints that greatly limit their potential to replace fossil-fuel sources of power generation. Because designing hydro projects to reduce their socio-economic and environmental damage typically entails greater costs and/or lower capacity, subsidies are needed to increase the number of responsible, economically viable projects. Despite the past abuses, hydro offers low-carbon energy generation, low-cost power generation, and important potential for energy storage and peaking supply to supplement intermittent low-carbon sources such as wind and solar. The promotion of responsible hydropower requires greater awareness of the possibilities for responsible projects, greater overall climate funding, better provision for local participation and compensation, changes in the doctrines of additionality, and stronger institutions to identify, design, and broker these projects.

An efficient procedure for optimization design of anti-seepage curtains: a case study

In large-scale hydropower projects, the anti-seepage curtain is an important measure to reduce the leakage of reservoirs and ensure the stability of foundation rocks. In this study, an efficient procedure for the optimization design of an anti-seepage curtain was proposed given the drawback of the time-consuming and low efficiency in optimizing multiple parameters of the anti-seepage curtain. This procedure can dramatically shorten the time for numerical simulation, reduce the workload of planning multiple parameter sets, and effectively avert the probable distortion of optimized results to some extent. This is achieved by identifying and optimizing the parameter that has the greatest impact on the performance of the anti-seepage curtain on the premise of adequate geological investigation and proper qualification of the performance of the anti-seepage curtain. This procedure was applied to the optimization design of the anti-seepage curtain in the upper reservoir of a pumped storage power station. Four different depths were suggested for the anti-seepage curtain according to the optimization results. This procedure can serve as a reference for the optimization design of an anti-seepage curtain with high effectiveness and confidence.

Selection of best location for small hydropower plant (SHP) along Chamkhar River, bhutanusing analytical hierarchy process (AHP)

Hydropower development activities have been playing an indispensable role in enhancing Bhutan's economy and driving towards its goal of becoming a self-reliant nation. Hydropower being a renewable source of energy with minimal environmental impacts has always synchronized with Bhutan's strict environmental regulations and policies. Despite having remarkable hydropower potential, it has been able to harness only a fraction of the total potential hydropower production only due to various challenges faced by the hydropower sector. There is a lack of in-house resources and experienced local expertise to carry out the specific assessment. Large-scale hydropower projects not only have high upfront cost and risk but also posing severe threats to the environment of terrestrial and riverine ecosystems. Run-off-river small hydropower plants (SHP) are considered to be most cost-effective and more importantly, they have relatively lesser impacts on the environment. It has been understood that river systems in Bhutan have numerous potential sites for SHPs despite facing a challenge in the selection of a suitable location. Hydropower development is a multi-dimensional approach that pivots on various factors and requires a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This study focuses on criteria prioritization of seven different criteria of locating an SHP along Chamkharriver that has been notable of its potentiality. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) of MCDA is the most suitable method for selecting the most feasible locations of a hydropower plant in this study. From the total of ten potential sites that have been considered feasible through technical studies, eventually, seven were taken for further suitable analysis. Hence, the five quantitative and two qualitative criteria were used to scale down to the most suitable location using the AHP method. This paper's model resulted that among the criteria, the sanctuary buffer distance (environmental aspect) to be a top priority criterion, followed by heritage (social aspect) and the next was the project cost (economic aspect).

In-situ rock tests for fault gouge zone：A case in Fengman hydropower station, China

The existence of faults in the dam site area threatens the stability and safety of large-scale hydropower projects in China. The fault argillaceous zone is the worst kind of fault fracture zone, and the determination of its deformation and strength parameters is the key point of rock engineering investigation. In this study, the in-situ bearing plate test and direct shear test were carried out on the gouge zone of F67 fault in the dam site of Fengman Hydropower Station. The test results show that the deformation and shear law of each test point is good, which is basically consistent with the actual condition of the measured rock mass. However, due to the limited number of measurements, the results are limited in terms of macroscopic representation. The experimental results provide scientific basis for subsequent engineering design and further enhance the understanding of mechanical properties of fault gouges.

Research and comprehensive evaluation on delivery schemes of the Grand Inga hydropower station

Congo River has abundant hydropower resources, and large-scale cascade power stations, such as the Grand Inga, can be constructed in downstream locations. However, the fragile economic foundations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Central African countries, and the small-scale regional power consumption market prohibit the implementation of large-scale hydropower projects. As the high-voltage, long-distance power transmission technology matures, hydropower from the Grand Inga can be delivered to load centers in other regions of Africa. This study establishes a 6 dimensional comprehensive assessment model using the best–worst method to evaluate large-scale, long-distance, cross-border power interconnection projects.The model is applied to evaluate all the candidate inter-regional power delivery schemes of the Inga III hydropower station, and the evaluation results can effectively help investment institutions and policy makers in policy making and potential market targeting.

What is a Green Economy? Review of National-Level Green Economy Policies in Cambodia and Lao PDR

A green economy that simultaneously promotes environmental sustainability, social inclusiveness, and economic growth is expected to benefit the heavily resource-dependent least developed countries. Yet, internationally, there is very little empirically based research on how the “green development” agenda translates into natural resource management policies in the least developed countries. This paper examines the implementation of green economy policies at the national level in the energy and forestry sectors in the Lao PDR and Cambodia. Both countries have adopted green growth targets; however, in terms of natural resources management, two contradictory processes have taken place during the past decade. While there have been some initiatives to decentralize natural resource management by enhancing the role of local communities role, such as community-based forest or fishery management, the far greater trend has been the opening up of the economies of the Lao PDR and Cambodia to large-scale investments by multinational enterprises. Large-scale hydropower projects and increasing deforestation pose challenges to more sustainable natural resource management efforts. This article is based on an analysis of the national green economy strategies and expert interviews with the government, academia, private sector and international and national development organizations. Focusing on the energy and forestry sectors, but also analysing the national green economy strategies as a whole, our analysis sheds light on the choices made in the national development versus green economy strategies. While green economy thinking rests on strong state regulation, the policies are often formulated within a complex dynamic of donor and investor interests. The achievement of a green economy depends on the state; thus, it should steer investments to ecologically less harmful industries and ensure social inclusiveness in land-use decisions. Our results show, however, that implementing a green economy is far more complex. Despite the quest for synergies, at the sectoral level there are still many unaddressed trade-offs between, for example, energy sources and forms of land use.

Reservoir Induced Deformation Analysis for Several Filling and Operational Scenarios at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Impoundment

Addressing seasonal water uncertainties and increased power generation demand has sparked a global rise in large-scale hydropower projects. To this end, the Blue Nile impoundment behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will encompass an areal extent of ~1763.3 km2 and hold ~67.37 Gt (km3) of water with maximum seasonal load changes of ~27.93 (41% of total)—~36.46 Gt (54% of total) during projected operational scenarios. Five different digital surface models (DSMs) are compared to spatially overlapping spaceborne altimeter products and hydrologic loads for the GERD are derived from the DSM with the least absolute elevation difference. The elastic responses to several filling and operational strategies for the GERD are modeled using a spherically symmetric, non-rotating, elastic, and isotropic (SNREI) Earth model. The maximum vertical and horizontal flexural responses from the full GERD impoundment are estimated to be 11.99 and 1.99 cm, regardless of the full impoundment period length. The vertical and horizontal displacements from the highest amplitude seasonal reservoir operational scenarios are 38–55% and 34–48% of the full deformation, respectively. The timing and rate of reservoir inflow and outflow affects the hydrologic load density on the Earth’s surface, and, as such, affects not only the total elastic response but also the distance that the deformation extends from the reservoir’s body. The magnitudes of the hydrologic-induced deformation are directly related to the size and timing of reservoir fluxes, and an increased knowledge of the extent and magnitude of this deformation provides meaningful information to stakeholders to better understand the effects from many different impoundment and operational strategies.

Application of UAV and ArcGIS in Soil and Water Conservation Monitoring of slag area—Taking a slag area of hydroelectric power station in Dadu River as an example

In the process of slag area in hydropower projects, the ground will be disturbed strongly, and a large amount of spoil slag will be generated, resulting in serious soil erosion. Therefore, the monitoring of soil and water conservation in the slag area of hydropower projects is particularly important. Tradition al ground monitoring cannot fully meet the needs of current monitoring work. UAV technology is more efficient than traditional technology,. Through periodic aerial photography and post-modeling, combining with ArcGIS, provides enhanced data analysis support for UAV data analysis. Taking the 1# slag yard of a hydropower station in Dadu River as an example, this paper discusses the applicability of UAV and ArcGIS technology in soil and water conservation monitoring of large hydropower project slag area. The effective way of maintaining information, while improving the monitoring efficiency of soil and water conservation, can ensure that the monitoring data and the Soil erosion error control are within 10%, making up for the traditional technical ways that is insufficient in the monitoring of soil and water conservation in the large-scale hydropower project slag yard.In recent years, the state has paid more and more attention to the construction of ecological civilization. As an important part of ecological civilization construction, soil and water conservation work has become more and more important. As an important part of soil and water conservation work, soil and water conservation monitoring is the basis for ecological restoration and comprehensive management of soil and water conservation, and is a powerful guarantee for national ecological construction decision-making [1]. In recent years, the application of remote sensing technology for UAVs is for production and construction. The project of soil and water conservation monitoring work provides a new technical way [2-4]. UAV operation has high automation and precision, and it is targeted. Some models have reached the application-level standards, and with the rapid progress of software and hardware technology, it is greatly improving the post-processing applicability of aerial image data, making drones widely used in aerial photography, agriculture, plant protection and monitoring. Torres-Sánchez et al [5], Francisco et al [6] use low-altitude high-resolution drone remote sensing imagery to carry out on precision agriculture and agricultural pest control. Mitch Bryson et al. [7] used low-altitude visible drone images to study vegetation type classification based on vegetation color and texture characteristics. Sebastian d’Oleire—Oltmanns et al. [8] used high-altitude drone aerial imagery to complete the monitoring of soil erosion in Morocco, providing a reference for soil and water.

Multiple spatio-temporal patterns of vegetation coverage and its relationship with climatic factors in a large dam-reservoir-river system

Along with the development of large-scale hydropower projects, many changes are arising both on the river channel and the ecosystems, which leads to the formation of a dam-reservoir-river system. The system is of significance to China due to the large-scale utilization of hydropower. However, such projects may cause significant impacts on local vegetation dynamics, which is of importance to local decision makers and water resources managers. In this research, the spatio-temporal variations of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and climatic factors (CFs) under multiple time scales (i.e., annual, seasonal, and wet/dry periods) and the spatio-temporal pattern of the correlation of NDVI-CFs under the scales of annual and wet season were analyzed in the system by using the statistical methods. The response of NDVI to CFs in the basin was explored at the monthly scale. The main results indicated that from 1999 to 2013, the annual average NDVI had a significant overall upward trend. The distributions of the NDVI and its trend had the spatial and seasonal differences, with majority areas showing medium-high and high vegetation cover and a slight improvement in the grade of vegetation cover change of more than 40% of the total area. In the basin, temperature (T) and evapotranspiration (ET0) showed an upward trend, and precipitation (P) and the humidity index (HI) were the opposite. The corrections of NDVI-T and NDVI-ET0 were positive, and that of NDVI-P and NDVI-HI were negative. Also, the vegetation growth was mainly affected by the amount of P, and its time-lag period to the P was two months. In the scale of the eight cascade hydropower stations, the vegetation coverage and the correlation of NDVI-CFs around the Jinanqiao and Longkaikou hydropower stations were the best, and those near the Ludila and Guanyinyan were the worst, indicating that the vegetation coverage was affected by the cascade hydropower stations development. Therefore, the results may be beneficial for sustainable watershed ecosystem management in the system, as well as ecological development planning around the cascade hydropower stations.

Process Analysis of Toppling Failure on Anti-dip Rock Slopes Under Seismic Load in Southwest China

Due to complex geological structures and strong crustal activity, geological disasters occur frequently in the upper reaches of the Yalong River, Southwest China. Toppling failure on anti-dip rock slopes is a common phenomenon; in particular, after the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, numerous landslides caused by toppling deformation occurred in reservoir areas, seriously threatening the construction and operation of large-scale water conservancy projects and hydropower projects. Taking three typical toppling slopes in the basin as research objects, the dynamic behaviour, failure evolution, and failure plane location of toppling failure under seismic waves were investigated by shaking table tests and UDEC simulations. The test results indicated that slope angle and stratum dip angle were both inversely proportional to the stability of the slope in the tested ranges. The failure evolution of toppling on anti-dip rock slopes could be divided into four stages: (1) the development stage of tensile cracks in the strata; (2) the formative stage of tensile cracks at the crest of the slope; (3) the formative stage of toppling zones; and (4) the failure stage. Two equations were proposed to reveal the relationships between the surface peak ground acceleration and the horizontal depth of the failure plane and displacement of the slope surface. The propagation and coalescence of discontinuous cross joint in the slope and the entire failure evolution simulated by the UDEC damage model agreed well with the shaking table test results.

Seepage Characteristics and Its Control Mechanism of Rock Mass in High-Steep Slopes

In Southwest China large-scale hydropower projects, the hydraulic conductivity and fracture aperture within the rock mass of a reservoir bank slope has dramatically undergone a time series of evolution during dam abutment excavation, reservoir impounding and fluctuation operation, and discharge atomization. Accordingly, seepage control measures by hydro-structures such as drainage or water insulation curtains should be guided by scientific foundation with a dynamic process covering life-cycle performance. In this paper, the up-to-date status of studying the evolution mechanism of seepage characteristics relating to fractured rock hydraulics from experimental samples to the engineering scale of the rock mass is reviewed for the first time. Then, the experimental findings and improved practice method on nonlinear seepage flow under intensive pressure drives are introduced. Finally, the scientific progress made in fractured rock seepage control theory and optimization of the design technology of high-steep slope engineering is outlined. The undertaken studies summarized herewith are expected to contribute to laying a foundation to guide the further development of effective geophysical means and integrated monitoring systems in hydropower station construction fields.

Research on Subcontractor Risk of EPC Hydropower Project in Vietnam

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts are becoming the most popular form to undertake construction works on large-scale hydropower projects. The EPC general contractors in Vietnam have been coped with lots of difficulties during the construction phase of hydropower projects, resulting in significant schedule delays and cost overrun. One of the reasons is poor Subcontractors capacity. In order to overcome above, the current study attempts to research on identification and control Subcontractors risks of delay process of EPC hydropower project in Vietnam. Through summarizing international research achievements of previous researches relating on EPC hydropower projects combining with analysis characteristics of developing construction of EPC hydropower projects in Vietnam, the current study pointed out all kinds of subcontractor risk of delay process of EPC hydropower project in Vietnam; a questionnaire with 18 risk elements was designed and then delivered to experts in EPC hydropower project management area. Based on the risk model, 11 main risk elements were identified which can be categorized into 3 groups. Lastly, the current study proposed suggestions to reduce or avoid risks as well as approach to control risks. Furthermore, the findings of this study can be a good managerial reference for project management teams who are working in other countries that have similar economic and investment environment to Vietnam to get their EPC construction project completed on schedule, thus ensuring the benefits to the government, the investor, the contractor, and the parties involved.

Design and performance of composite runner blades for ultra low head turbines

Abstract Stream sites are abundantly available for small, ultra low head, hydropower applications with minimal environmental and ecological impacts compared to large-scale hydropower projects. However, little attention has been paid to these resources because of the relatively high weight and deployment costs of small turbines compared to the amount of power generated, which results from the use of stainless steel (SS) as the turbine material. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of replacing the machined SS blades in a small propeller-type turbine with light-weight composite blades injection molded from a fiber reinforced polymer. Using computational fluid dynamics models and finite element analysis, a carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic was selected from three candidate composite materials for its lower density and smaller blade tip displacement. Injection molded blades using this material were then manufactured and tested in a lab-scale turbine performance test loop to compare with the SS blades of the same design. With the same flow rates, the composite turbine blades generated more power but required a slightly higher head (∼0.08 m) than the SS blades. Both the composite and SS blades displayed similar peak turbine efficiencies, demonstrating the viability of the composite material in replacing SS from the perspective of power-generation performance.

Dreaming of pipes: Kathmandu’s long-delayed Melamchi Water Supply Project

For a generation, people in Kathmandu have been waiting for a large drinking water diversion project to relieve them of a severe water shortage. Recounting the history of the Melamchi Water Supply Project through interviews, project documentation, and media reports, this article argues that an analysis of unfinished infrastructure has to take into account the recalcitrance of more-than-human forms, in particular matter like water and rock, as well as institutions like government ministries and international donor agencies. In the case of Melamchi, the lack of control over both matter and such institutional actors delayed the completion of the project – as is the case with a number of large-scale hydropower projects in the country. Despite this obvious inability to complete infrastructures, elites have built the promise of a prosperous future for Nepal on its water resources and the export of electricity. By conceptualizing Melamchi as an infrastructural meshwork in Ingold’s understanding and Nepal as an unfinished hydraulic state, I aim to contribute to the growing literature complicating Wittfogel’s idea of the hydrosocial.

Electricity as a Cooking Means in Nepal—A Modelling Tool Approach

Cooking energy has an important role in energy demand of Nepal. Over the last decade, import of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has increased by 3.3 times as an alternate cooking fuel to kerosene and firewood. The growing subsidy burden to endorse modern fuel switching from traditional energy sources and high import of LPG are challenges for sustainability and energy security. This paper analyzes the future residential cooking energy demand and its environmental and economic impacts from 2015 to 2035 using a Long-range Energy Alternative Planning System (LEAP) tool. In 2035, the LPG demand for cooking is projected to be 26.5 million GJ, 16.3 million GJ, 45.2 million GJ and 58.2 million GJ for business as usual (BAU), low growth rate (LGR), medium growth rate (MGR) and high growth rate (HGR) scenarios, respectively. To substitute LPG with electricity in the cooking sector by 2035, an additional 1207 MW, 734 MW, 2055 MW and 2626 MW hydropower installation is required for BAU, LGR, MGR and HGR scenarios, respectively. In the MGR scenario, substituting LPG with electricity could save from $21.8 million (2016) to $70.8 million (2035) each year, which could be used to develop large-scale hydropower projects in the long term.

Sustainability Risk Evaluation for Large-Scale Hydropower Projects with Hybrid Uncertainty

As large-scale hydropower projects are influenced by many factors, risk evaluations are complex. This paper considers a hydropower project as a complex system from the perspective of sustainability risk, and divides it into three subsystems: the natural environment subsystem, the eco-environment subsystem and the socioeconomic subsystem. Risk-related factors and quantitative dimensions of each subsystem are comprehensively analyzed considering uncertainty of some quantitative dimensions solved by hybrid uncertainty methods, including fuzzy (e.g., the national health degree, the national happiness degree, the protection of cultural heritage), random (e.g., underground water levels, river width), and fuzzy random uncertainty (e.g., runoff volumes, precipitation). By calculating the sustainability risk-related degree in each of the risk-related factors, a sustainable risk-evaluation model is built. Based on the calculation results, the critical sustainability risk-related factors are identified and targeted to reduce the losses caused by sustainability risk factors of the hydropower project. A case study at the under-construction Baihetan hydropower station is presented to demonstrate the viability of the risk-evaluation model and to provide a reference for the sustainable risk evaluation of other large-scale hydropower projects.

Deformation Forecasting of Surrounding Rock Mass Based on Correlation between Frequency and Fracture Scale of Microseismicity

The macroscopic deformation and failure of engineering rock mass may occur as a result of evolution and breakdown of its internal microfracture. Therefore, the macroscopic state of rock mass can be obtained from fracture scale of microfracture in real time. To assess instability and predict macroscopic deformation and failure of engineering rock mass, a time‐frequency analysis technique based on S transform was proposed to investigate microseismic waveform and reveal the correlation between macroscopic deformation failure and microseismic frequency characteristics of engineering rock mass in combination with fracture scale. To minimize the influence of external factors on parameters calculated, a significant amount of microseismic data from three large‐scale hydropower projects in southwestern China was collected as the statistical sample. The analysis of correlation between fracture scale and frequency characteristics of microseismic events was carried out based on the statistical sample. Combining with microseismic data and multipoint extensometers in the underground powerhouse of the Houziyan hydropower station, engineering verification was conducted. The result shows that the high‐frequency components decrease and microseismic signals display low‐frequency characteristic as the fracture scale increases; the microseismic high‐frequency components decreased at first and then increased during the deformation process of surrounding rock mass, and the frequency of microseismic events shifts from high band to a lower one before deformation.

Towards an optimization design of seepage control: A case study in dam engineering

High dams generally suffer from higher seepage risks in their foundations, and seepage control is an important technology for limiting the amount of leakage and improving the stability of the foundations. In this study, a procedure was proposed for optimization design of seepage control system in large-scale hydropower projects, which relies on sufficient characterization of site conditions and proper quantification of the performance of the seepage control system. The proposed procedure was applied to the design of seepage control system in the Mengdigou Hydropower Station consisting of a double-curvature arch dam 201 m in height. An optimized layout of the seepage control system, including the extended length of grout curtain, the rows of grouting holes and the spacing of drainage holes, was suggested. The proposed procedure provides a guide with lower risk and higher confidence for performance assessment and optimization design of seepage control systems in high dam engineering.

BIM-Based Collaboration Platform for the Management of EPC Projects in Hydropower Engineering

AbstractEngineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts are becoming the most common form of contracting in the hydropower trade for large-scale hydropower projects. Because of an increa...