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    Effect of Proposed Large Dams on Water Flows and Hydropower Production in the Sekong, Sesan and Srepok Rivers of the Mekong Basin (2016)

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    Type of Content
    Journal Article
    UC Permalink
    http://hdl.handle.net/10092/17326
    
    Publisher's DOI/URI
    https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3045
    
    Publisher
    University of Canterbury. Civil and Natural Resources Engineering
    Collections
    • Engineering: Journal Articles [1529]
    Authors
    Piman, T.
    Cochrane, T.A.
    Arias, M.E.
    show all
    Abstract

    Water flow patterns in the Mekong are changing due to on-going rapid hydropower development triggered by economic growth. Of immediate concern are the current and proposed hydropower dams in the transboundary Srepok, Sesan and Srekong (3S) Rivers, which contribute up to 20% of the Mekong’s annual flows, have a large potential for energy production, and provide critical ecosystem services to the downstream Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong Delta. The objective of this paper is to determine how the operation of the proposed largest individual dams and cascade dams schemes in the 3S Rivers will affect flow regimes and energy production. Daily flows were simulated over 20 years using the SWAT and HECResSim models for a range of dam development and operations scenarios. The development of all dams in the 3S basin under an operation scheme to maximize individual electricity production results in an average 98% increase in dry season flows at the 3S outlet. Over 55% of dry season flows changes are caused by seven proposed large dams, with the Lower Srepok 3 project causing the highest impact. The seven large dams will generate 33.0 GWh/day with a water volume of 17,679 million m3 , compared to the current and definite future dams generating 73.2 GWh/day with a much lower volume of 6,616 million m3 . When a cascade of dams are operational, downstream dams with small reservoirs will produce more energy. However, the marginal increase in energy production from the development of additional dams in the 3S basin will decline rapidly relative to the required water storage increase,. Strategic decision making on the future of each large proposed dam in the 3S basin needs to be considered by local governments after understanding cumulative operation effects and with further consideration to the potential impact on downstream ecosystem productivity and livelihoods.

    Citation
    Piman, T., Cochrane, T.A., Arias, M.E. (2016) Effect of Proposed Large Dams on Water Flows and Hydropower Production in the Sekong, Sesan and Srepok Rivers of the Mekong Basin. River Research and Applications.
    This citation is automatically generated and may be unreliable. Use as a guide only.
    Keywords
    Southeast Asia; HEC-ResSim; hydrological modelling; dam operation; hydropower; Mekong
    ANZSRC Fields of Research
    09 - Engineering::0905 - Civil Engineering::090509 - Water Resources Engineering
    09 - Engineering::0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering::090607 - Power and Energy Systems Engineering (excl. Renewable Power)
    09 - Engineering::0907 - Environmental Engineering::090702 - Environmental Engineering Modelling
    Rights
    https://hdl.handle.net/10092/17651

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Modelling the Impact of Large Dams on Flows and Hydropower Production of the Sekong, Sesan, and Srepok Rivers in the Mekong Basin 

      Cochrane, T.A.; Piman, T.; Arias, M.E. (University of Canterbury. Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, 2013)
    • Assessment of flow changes from hydropower development and operations in Sekong, Sesan and Srepok Rivers of the Mekong Basin 

      Piman, T.; Cochrane, T.A.; Arias, M.E.; Green, A.; Dat, N.D. (University of Canterbury. Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, 2013)
      The Mekong River supports unique biodiversity and provides food security for over sixty million people in the Indo-Burma region, but potential changes to natural flow patterns from hydropower development are a major risk ...
    • The current and future impact of water resources development on flows and livelhoods of the Mekong River 

      Cochrane, T.A.; Arias, M.E.; Piman, T. (University of Canterbury. Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, 2014)
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