Impacts of climate change, policy and Water-Energy-Food nexus on hydropower development

Zhang, Xiao; Li, Hong-Yi; Deng, Zhiqun Daniel; Ringler, Claudia; Gao, Yang; Hejazi, Mohamad I.; Leung, L. Ruby

doi:10.1016/J.RENENE.2017.10.030

Impacts of climate change, policy and Water-Energy-Food nexus on hydropower development

Journal Article · Tue Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Renewable Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RENENE.2017.10.030· OSTI ID:1413494

Zhang, Xiao ^[1]; ^[2]; Deng, Zhiqun Daniel ^[1]; Ringler, Claudia ^[3]; Gao, Yang ^[4]; Hejazi, Mohamad I. ^[5]; Leung, L. Ruby ^[4]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Hydrology Technical Group
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Hydrology Technical Group ; Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (United States). Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington D.C. (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division
Joint Global Change Research Institute, College Park, MD (United States)

We report that hydropower plays an important role as the global energy system moves towards a less carbon-intensive and sustainable future as promoted under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article provides a systematic review of the impacts from policy, climate change and Water-Energy-Food (W-E-F) nexus on hydropower development at global scale. Asia, Africa and Latin America are hotspots promoting hydropower development with capacity expansion, while Europe and North America focus on performance improvement and environment impacts mitigation. Climate change is projected to improve gross hydropower potential (GHP) at high latitude of North Hemisphere and tropical Africa and decrease that in the US, South Africa and south and central Europe. Analysis from W-E-F nexus highlights the importance of integrated approaches as well as cross-sectoral coordination so as to improve resources use efficiency and achieve sustainable hydropower development. In conclusion, these three factors together shape the future of hydropower and need to be considered for planning and operation purpose.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1413494

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1735944
OSTI ID: 1549344

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--114680; PII: S0960148117309928

Journal Information:: Renewable Energy, Journal Name: Renewable Energy Journal Issue: PA Vol. 116; ISSN 0960-1481

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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