Monthly hydropower generation data for Western Canada to support Western-US interconnect power system studies

Son, Youngjun; Bracken, Cameron; Broman, Daniel; Voisin, Nathalie

doi:10.1038/s41597-025-05098-2

Monthly hydropower generation data for Western Canada to support Western-US interconnect power system studies

Journal Article · Wed May 28 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Scientific Data (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05098-2· OSTI ID:2570305

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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)

Hydroelectric power generation in Western Canada significantly contributes to power grid operations of the North American Western Interconnection through substantial generation, some of which is exported to the United States (U.S.). However, the lack of publicly available hydropower generation datasets poses challenges for future market projections and resource adequacy evaluations. We present a simulation-based monthly power system model-ready hydropower generation dataset for 110 facilities in British Columbia and Alberta from 1981 to 2019. These monthly hydropower generation estimates are developed from integrated hydrologic model simulations of runoff and reservoir-operated streamflow, followed by scaling that considers diversion inflow constraints based on hydropower water license information. To address the lack of comparable hydropower generation records, we conduct step-by-step evaluations for simulated runoff, regulated streamflow, and hydropower generation using available observations or estimates. The presented hydropower dataset aims to enhance the representation of hydropower resources in Western Canada, supporting power grid system studies for the Western Interconnection of the U.S. and Canada.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

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

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2570305

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--204049

Journal Information:: Scientific Data (Online), Journal Name: Scientific Data (Online) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 2052-4463

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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