Author(s): Paulo A. Diogo; Antonio C. Rodrigues; Goncalo A. Duarte

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: No Keywords

Abstract: Hydropower is essential for sustainable development based on renewable energies. It is renewable energy that can be stored and used only when it is needed. However, it depends directly on variables that are affected by climate change, so that the availability of the water resource can be compromised, affecting the entire energy sector and its production. Presented work targets the evaluation of the installed capacity, annual energy production under climate change scenarios and how much can dam operation minimize the impacts related to potential precipitation/ runoff reductions. For this purpose, the operation of the Cabril dam, located along the Zezere river, in central Portugal, was simulated under climate change scenarios. Precipitation modelling was performed using an adaptation of the Thornthwaite and Mather precipitation-runoff model. According to the obtained results a monthly average reduction of hydropower production of 3% and 18% for future scenarios, respectively for scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. It was also possible to conclude that for this case study and according to the methodology used, the variation between the affluent runoff between periods is not directly proportional to the variation of the turbined flow as the latter decreases less than the affluent flow, demonstrating the importance of adequate dam operation strategies.

DOI:

Year: 2024