Hydropower is a crucial component in the global pursuit of clean energy, yet climate change and land-use and land-cover changes present significant challenges to its sustainability. A recent systematic review led by Emmanuel Kekle Ahialey, Professor Amos Tiereyangn Kabo-Bah, and Professor Samuel Gyamfi from the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana, examines the impact of these environmental factors on hydropower production and its future development. Published in Heliyon, this study draws from extensive scholarly sources to analyze the intricate relationship between hydropower, climate change, and changes in land use and land cover.
The researchers focused on understanding how shifts in temperature, precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events—such as droughts and floods—affect the availability of water resources essential for hydropower. “Climate change is one of the major threats to consistent hydropower generation,” Ahialey explained. He noted that fluctuations in rainfall, compounded by rising temperatures, create instability in water flows needed for hydropower reservoirs, directly threatening energy production capabilities. Additionally, deforestation, urban expansion, and agricultural activities contribute to changes in land cover, which further impact hydrological cycles and reduce the availability of water.
One critical finding of this review is the strong correlation between climate-driven variability in streamflow and reduced hydropower potential. The study shows that changes in land use and land cover alone can disrupt natural water availability, but when combined with climate change, the effects are exacerbated. For instance, regions that experience deforestation tend to have diminished soil moisture retention, which disrupts groundwater recharge and leads to irregular streamflow. This phenomenon is especially prominent in tropical regions where extensive forest cover loss has been documented. Additionally, the study highlights that extreme climatic events have been intensifying, particularly in regions prone to seasonal droughts, which pose heightened risks to hydropower reliability.
Urbanization also emerged as a crucial factor affecting hydropower, as the transformation of natural landscapes into urban environments leads to increased runoff and reduced water absorption by the soil. This reduces the stability of streamflows needed for efficient hydropower production. In the study, Ahialey and colleagues emphasized the role of these factors in shaping the future of sustainable hydropower development, suggesting that without addressing climate change and managing land-use changes, the growth of hydropower infrastructure may face substantial hurdles.
In summary, the researchers conclude that achieving sustainable hydropower in a changing climate demands a nuanced approach, addressing both climate adaptation and sustainable land management. Policies that encourage reforestation, regulate urban expansion near river basins, and anticipate future climate scenarios could mitigate some adverse impacts on hydropower production. This research serves as a timely reminder of the interconnectedness of climate, land use, and energy, urging further investigations and policy adjustments to support hydropower as a resilient clean energy source in the years to come.
Journal Reference
Ahialey, E. K., Kabo–Bah, A. T., & Gyamfi, S. “Impacts of LULC and climate changes on hydropower generation and development: A systematic review.” Heliyon, 9 (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21247
About the Authors
Emmanuel Kekle Ahialey iscurrently a PhD candidate in Sustainable Energy Management (2020 – 2024) at Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES), University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani- Ghana. He holds MSc Energy and Sustainable Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi- Ghana. Prior to that, he obtained B.Ed Technology (Electrical & Electronic) from the Kumasi Campus of University of Education, Winneba now known as Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Enterpreneurial Development (AAMUSTED). He also undertook a ten – week online course for aspiring entrepreneurs which earned him a Global Certificate in Entrepreneurship (GCIE). Emmanuel is an ambitious and a self-motivated tutor with several years’ experience and practical knowledge in teaching and researching. His research is focused on climate change, land use land cover (LULC), hydrology as well as Sustainable development issues. His PhD dissertation is focused on the impact of LULC and climate changes on the generation and development of hydropower. He has so far published two (2) scientific papers and a book out of his PhD thesis. The remaining chapters are under review in different journals. He is a reviewer for different scientific journals across the globe and a Scientific Committee Member for the Asian Council of Science Editors and a Scientific Committee Member for Annual International Congress on Civil Engineering. Emmanuel is passionate about the development of the manpower of the next generation and he is committed to sharing his knowledge and experience with colleagues and students across the globe. He looks forward to a lecturer job as well as a postdoc position in any university across the globe. At his leisure times, Emmanuel loves nature, jogging to keep fit. His expertise makes him a valuable asset to any organization that loves team work. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4904-9740 , https://scholar.google.com/citations%3Fuser%3Dq
Ing. Prof. Amos Tiereyangn Kabo-Bah is an Associate Professor and currently the Dean for the International Relations Office of the University of Energy and Natural Resources. Formerly, he was the Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department for Energy and Environmental Engineering and the Earth Observation Research and Innovation Centre between 2015 and 2020. At UENR, he is the Coordinator of the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC-2) Programme and Advanced Fire Information System (AFIS) for West Africa; and the Ghana Carbon Programme. He is a Programme Board Member for the Group on Earth Observation (GEO); an intergovernmental organization working to improve the availability, access and use of Earth observations for the benefit of society. Under GEO programme, he is a Scientific Committee for GEO AquaWatch Programme and CoChair for developing the strategic direction and implementation schedule for the GEO Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). He is also a Scientific Steering Committee Member for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). He is an Editorial Member for Oriental Journal of Chemistry (OJC), Editor for Information Technology and Engineering Section – Scientific African Journal, and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Energy and Natural Resource Management (JENRM). Mr. Kabo-bah obtained his bachelor education in Civil Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana and MSc Environmental Hydrology at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. In 2013, he obtained his PhD Hydrology and Water Resources at Hohai University in Nanjing, China, and later for his Post-doctoral research on Climate Change Impacts on Hydropower Generation in Ghana at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5758-3708
Samuel Gyamfi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering and current Head of the department of Renewable Energy Engineering at the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana. He is the Deputy Director of the Regional Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES) at the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana. Samuel is also currently leading the implementation of a five-million-dollar China South-South Cooperation project between the Ghana government and the government of the People’s Republic of China. He played a key role in the writing of a proposal that won and established the RCEES, which is one of the World Bank Centers of Excellence for Development Impact at UENR. He is the local project coordinator for the European Union Project on Enhancing Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability in Higher Education in Africa (EEIS-HEA). Samuel received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (specializing in residential electricity demand response assessment and modeling) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand in 2010 and his MSc in Energy Systems from the Aachen University of Applied Sciences in Germany in 2004. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Geodetic Engineering from KNUST in 2001. His main research interest is in utility demand side management and how human factors can be used to develop technology and communication systems to improve energy efficiency behavior.
