| Title: | Optimal operation of hydropower reservoirs under climate change: The case of Tekeze Reservoir, Eastern Nile |
| Authors: | Abera, F.F., D.H. Asfaw, A.N. Engida and A.M. Melesse |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Journal: | Water |
| Volume (Issue): | 10(3) |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 273 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/w10030273 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | model and/or data interface |
| Secondary Application Category: | climate change |
| Watershed Description: | Tekeze River, a tributary of the Tekeze-Setit-Atbera river system (which is part of the Eastern Nile River) that drains parts of northern Ethiopia. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | Optimal operation of reservoirs is very essential for water resource planning and
management, but it is very challenging and complicated when dealing with climate change impacts.
The objective of this paper was to assess existing and future hydropower operation at the Tekeze
reservoir in the face of climate change. In this study, a calibrated and validated Soil and Water
Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model runoff inflow into the Tekeze hydropower reservoir under
present and future climate scenarios. Inflow to the reservoir was simulated using hydro-climatic
data from an ensemble of downscaled climate data based on the Coordinated Regional climate
Downscaling Experiment over African domain (CORDEX-Africa) with Coupled Intercomparison
Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) simulations under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)4.5 and
RCP8.5 climate scenarios. Observed and projected inflows to Tekeze hydropower reservoir were used
as input to the US Army Corps of Engineer’s Reservoir Evaluation System Perspective Reservoir
Model (HEC-ResPRM), a reservoir operation model, to optimize hydropower reservoir release,
storage and pool level. Results indicated that climate change has a clear impact on reservoir inflow
and showed increase in annual and monthly inflow into the reservoir except in dry months from May
to June under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios. HEC-ResPRM optimal operation results showed
an increase in Tekeze reservoir power storage potential up to 25% and 30% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5
climate scenarios, respectively. This implies that Tekeze hydropower production will be affected
by climate change. This analysis can be used by water resources planners and mangers to develop
reservoir operation techniques considering climate change impact to increase power production. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | reservoir operation; optimization; SWAT; HEC-ResPRM; climate change; CORDEX-Africa;
Tekeze basin |