Participation and politics in transboundary hydropower development: The case of the Pak Beng dam in Laos

<p>Considering the lack of a comprehensive assessement of hydropower potential in the Upper Indus basin, we developed and implemented a systematic framework to explore four different classes of hydropower potential. Our framework uses high-resolution discharge generated by a coupled cryosphere-hydrology model as the bio-physical boundary conditions to estimate theoretical potential. Thereafter, diverse context-specific constraints are implemented stepwise to estimate the technical, economic and sustainable hydropower potential. The successive classes of hydropower potential integrate considerations for various water demands under the water-energy-food nexus, multiple geo-hazard risks, climate change, environmental protection, and socio-economic preferences. We demonstrate that the nearly two thousand Terawatt-hour of theoretical potential available annualy in the upper Indus can be misleading because a majority of this is technically and economically not viable. Even smaller potential remains if we account for the various sustainability constraints that vary spatially. Our concept of the sustainable hydropower potential enables decision makers to look beyond the energy sector when selecting hydropower projects for development to achieveenergy security under the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7).The generated portfolio of sustainable hydropower projects is superior to the current portfolio based on outdated studies because our method looks beyond theoretical possibilities and excludes projects that conflict with management objectives under other SDGs. The spatial maps with potential and the cost curves for hydropower production provide a science-based knowledge base for hydropower development in the Indus basin. Our method could similarly be adapted to inform hydropower development in other basins across the globe.</p>

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Highly Controversial Hydropower Development In Western China

The China Environment Yearbook (2005) ◽

10.1163/ej.9789004156364.i-440.30 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 63-88

Author(s):

Xue Ye ◽

Wang Yongchen

Keyword(s):

Western China ◽

Hydropower Development

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Urban/rural division in environmental justice frameworks: revealing modernity-urbanisation nexus in Turkey’s small-scale hydropower development

Local Environment ◽

10.1080/13549839.2017.1368465 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 1510-1525 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ramazan Caner Sayan

Keyword(s):

Environmental Justice ◽

Small Scale ◽

Hydropower Development ◽

Urban Rural

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A History of FDI in Hydropower Development in Nepal

Hydro Nepal Journal of Water Energy and Environment ◽

10.3126/hn.v18i0.14639 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 22-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kamal Raj Dhungel

Keyword(s):

Foreign Direct Investment ◽

Foreign Aid ◽

Foreign Investment ◽

Direct Investment ◽

Hydropower Project ◽

Hydropower Development ◽

History Of

In Nepal, hydropower is an obvious target for foreign aid and foreign investment. To date, a number of notable hydropower projects were constructed through foreign aid and that history dates back to 1911, when the Britain supported the Pharping hydropower project near Kathmandu. Today, India, China, USA and Norway are investigating the prospects for Nepali hydropower development. This paper traces this history of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nepal. HYDRO Nepal Journal of Water Energy and EnvironmentVolume- 18, 2016, JanuaryPage -22 to 24

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