Hydropower system in the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate change
Abstract The world’s largest diversion-type hydropower system will be created on the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon. The canyon, a critical region for hydropower development and ecological conservation, faces challenges under climate change. Here we evaluate the water-energy-ecosystem nexus in this hy...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02247-8 |
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| author | Fengbo Zhang Qin Yang Jianhua Wang Huan Liu Qinghui Zeng Long Yan Baolong Zhao Jiaxuan Tang Kang Zhao Yining Zang Wei Liu Peng Hu |
| author_facet | Fengbo Zhang Qin Yang Jianhua Wang Huan Liu Qinghui Zeng Long Yan Baolong Zhao Jiaxuan Tang Kang Zhao Yining Zang Wei Liu Peng Hu |
| author_sort | Fengbo Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The world’s largest diversion-type hydropower system will be created on the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon. The canyon, a critical region for hydropower development and ecological conservation, faces challenges under climate change. Here we evaluate the water-energy-ecosystem nexus in this hydropower system using the Water and Energy Transfer Processes in Large River Basins model and the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III model. Key findings reveal that reservoir operations with medium replenishment flow (1000 m³ s−1) during dry periods achieve an optimal balance among hydropower generation annually (2231 × 108 kWh), flood mitigation (peak clipping rate 22.8%), and minimal ecosystem impact (eco-index 0.45). Hydropower development stabilizes runoff regimes, enhances flood control capacity under climate scenarios (e.g., 29.2% peak reduction under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 126), and mitigates downstream flood risks while supporting dry-season irrigation and navigation. Notably, under low-forcing climate change scenarios (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 126), ecosystem stability is sustained primarily through the gradual and consistent replenishment of water resources from stabilized snowpack and glacial reserves. Transboundary cooperation is strengthened through adaptive reservoir management, ensuring energy security for China and flood protection for downstream nations. This integrated approach highlights the potential for harmonizing sustainable hydropower expansion with ecological and geopolitical resilience in international river basins. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ff630af9c215450291b9cb1e9db22909 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-ff630af9c215450291b9cb1e9db229092025-08-20T04:01:36ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-04-016111310.1038/s43247-025-02247-8Hydropower system in the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate changeFengbo Zhang0Qin Yang1Jianhua Wang2Huan Liu3Qinghui Zeng4Long Yan5Baolong Zhao6Jiaxuan Tang7Kang Zhao8Yining Zang9Wei Liu10Peng Hu11State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchSchool of Civil Engineering, Tianjin UniversityState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchInstitute of Groundwater Management, TU DresdenHuaneng Tibet Yarlung Zangbo River Hydropower Development&Investment CO.LTD Jiacha Hydropower PlantState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchAbstract The world’s largest diversion-type hydropower system will be created on the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon. The canyon, a critical region for hydropower development and ecological conservation, faces challenges under climate change. Here we evaluate the water-energy-ecosystem nexus in this hydropower system using the Water and Energy Transfer Processes in Large River Basins model and the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III model. Key findings reveal that reservoir operations with medium replenishment flow (1000 m³ s−1) during dry periods achieve an optimal balance among hydropower generation annually (2231 × 108 kWh), flood mitigation (peak clipping rate 22.8%), and minimal ecosystem impact (eco-index 0.45). Hydropower development stabilizes runoff regimes, enhances flood control capacity under climate scenarios (e.g., 29.2% peak reduction under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 126), and mitigates downstream flood risks while supporting dry-season irrigation and navigation. Notably, under low-forcing climate change scenarios (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 126), ecosystem stability is sustained primarily through the gradual and consistent replenishment of water resources from stabilized snowpack and glacial reserves. Transboundary cooperation is strengthened through adaptive reservoir management, ensuring energy security for China and flood protection for downstream nations. This integrated approach highlights the potential for harmonizing sustainable hydropower expansion with ecological and geopolitical resilience in international river basins.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02247-8 |
| spellingShingle | Fengbo Zhang Qin Yang Jianhua Wang Huan Liu Qinghui Zeng Long Yan Baolong Zhao Jiaxuan Tang Kang Zhao Yining Zang Wei Liu Peng Hu Hydropower system in the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate change Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Hydropower system in the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate change |
| title_full | Hydropower system in the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate change |
| title_fullStr | Hydropower system in the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydropower system in the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate change |
| title_short | Hydropower system in the Yarlung-Tsangpo Grand Canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate change |
| title_sort | hydropower system in the yarlung tsangpo grand canyon can mitigate flood disasters caused by climate change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02247-8 |
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