Optimizing Lancang-Mekong hydropower portfolio effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions

IF 9.8 1区社会学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Environmental Impact Assessment Review Pub Date : 2025-04-23 DOI:10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107952

Xiaobo Yun , Qiuhong Tang , Jie Wang , Siao Sun , Hongjun Bao , Yadu Pokhrel , Lifeng Luo , Deliang Chen

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

More than one hundred reservoirs with high dam (over 15 m in height) have been constructed or are planned in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin (LMRB) over the past two decades, making it a frontier for hydropower development, resulting in a concerning basin-wide average carbon intensity of 510 kg CO₂eqMWh⁻¹ (using a 100-year time horizon) – far surpassing the reference carbon intensity for sustainable hydropower development, set at 80 kg CO₂eqMWh⁻¹. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of both missed and future opportunities to curtail greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by optimizing the 141 existing hydropower reservoirs within the LMRB. The results show that by re-planning seven future reservoirs and decommissioning or upgrading nine operating reservoirs, the average carbon intensity can be decreased to 96 kg CO₂eqMWh⁻¹ (100-year time horizon). Such optimization efforts would necessitate a mere 3.1 % reduction in hydropower generation. Moreover, our study indicates that more ambitious optimization strategies could yield further GHG emission reductions; however, these strategies may entail higher tradeoffs in hydropower generation. Our assessment highlights the potential for decarbonizing hydropower development through strategic basin-wide planning.

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优化澜沧江-湄公河水电组合，有效减少温室气体排放

在过去的20年里，澜沧江-湄公河流域（LMRB）已建成或规划了100多个高坝（高度超过15米）水库，使其成为水电开发的前沿，导致整个流域的平均碳强度为510 kg CO2eqMWh - 1（以100年为基准），远远超过可持续水电开发的参考碳强度80 kg CO2eqMWh - 1。在这项研究中，我们对通过优化LMRB内141个现有水电水库来减少温室气体排放的错失和未来机会进行了全面分析。结果表明，通过对7个未来水库进行重新规划，并对9个正在运行的水库进行退役或升级，平均碳强度可降至96 kg CO2eqMWh - 1（100年时间范围）。这样的优化努力只需要减少3.1%的水力发电。此外，我们的研究表明，更雄心勃勃的优化策略可以产生进一步的温室气体减排；然而，这些策略可能需要在水力发电方面进行更高的权衡。我们的评估强调了通过战略性的全流域规划使水电开发脱碳的潜力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Environmental Impact Assessment Review ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-

CiteScore

12.60

自引率

10.10%

发文量

200

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： Environmental Impact Assessment Review is an interdisciplinary journal that serves a global audience of practitioners, policymakers, and academics involved in assessing the environmental impact of policies, projects, processes, and products. The journal focuses on innovative theory and practice in environmental impact assessment (EIA). Papers are expected to present innovative ideas, be topical, and coherent. The journal emphasizes concepts, methods, techniques, approaches, and systems related to EIA theory and practice.