LAPSE:2023.8853
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.8853
Regionalization of Climate Change Simulations for the Assessment of Impacts on Precipitation, Flow Rate and Electricity Generation in the Xingu River Basin in the Brazilian Amazon
Edmundo Wallace Monteiro Lucas, Fabrício Daniel dos Santos Silva, Francisco de Assis Salviano de Souza, David Duarte Cavalcante Pinto, Heliofábio Barros Gomes, Helber Barros Gomes, Mayara Christine Correia Lins, Dirceu Luís Herdies
February 24, 2023
This study applied regionalization techniques on future climate change scenarios for the precipitation over the Xingu River Basin (XRB) considering the 2021−2080 horizon, in order to assess impacts on the monthly flow rates and possible consequences for electricity generation at the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant (BMHPP). This is the fourth largest hydroelectric power plant in the world, with a generating capacity of 11,233 MW, and is located in the Brazilian Amazon. Two representative concentration pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) and an ensemble comprising four general circulation models (CanESM2, CNRM-CM5, MPI-ESM-LR and NORESM1-M) were used. The projections based on both scenarios indicated a considerable decrease in precipitation during the rainy season and a slight increase during the dry season relative to the reference period (1981−2010). According to the results, a reduction in the flow rates in Altamira and in the overall potential for power generation in the BMHPP are also to be expected in both analyzed periods (2021−2050 and 2051−2180). The RCP 4.5 scenario resulted in milder decreases in those variables than the RCP 8.5. Conforming to our findings, a reduction of 21.3% in the annual power generation at the BMHPP is expected until 2080, with a corresponding use of 38.8% of the maximum potential of the facility. These results highlight the need for investments in other renewable energy sources (e.g., wind and solar) in order to compensate for the upcoming losses in the BMHPP production.
Keywords
Brazilian Amazon, climate scenarios, flow rate, Hydroelectric Power, precipitation, regionalization
Suggested Citation
Lucas EWM, dos Santos Silva FD, de Souza FDAS, Pinto DDC, Gomes HB, Gomes HB, Lins MCC, Herdies DL. Regionalization of Climate Change Simulations for the Assessment of Impacts on Precipitation, Flow Rate and Electricity Generation in the Xingu River Basin in the Brazilian Amazon. (2023). LAPSE:2023.8853
Author Affiliations
Lucas EWM: Academic Unit of Atmospheric Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grand 58429-900, Brazil; National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), Eixo Monumental Sul Via S1 Sudoeste, Brasília 70680-900, Brazil
dos Santos Silva FD: Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57072-900, Brazil [ORCID]
de Souza FDAS: Academic Unit of Atmospheric Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grand 58429-900, Brazil
Pinto DDC: Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57072-900, Brazil; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA [ORCID]
Gomes HB: Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57072-900, Brazil
Gomes HB: Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57072-900, Brazil [ORCID]
Lins MCC: Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57072-900, Brazil
Herdies DL: National Institute for Space Research, Cachoeira Paulista, São Paulo 12227-010, Brazil [ORCID]
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
15
Issue
20
First Page
7698
Year
2022
Publication Date
2022-10-18
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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PII: en15207698, Publication Type: Journal Article
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doi:10.3390/en15207698
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Feb 24, 2023
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