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The geographical condition of Nepal is boon and curse. Boon in the case of generating high
potential head for development of hydropower stations and curse because variation in
geographical condition are more prone to disaster like flood and landslide.
The current estimates show that Nepal has approximately 40,000 MW of economically feasible
hydropower potential. However, the present situation is that Nepal has developed only
approximately 600 MW of hydropower. The recent data shows there are almost 30 hydropower
stations built in Nepal among which five power plants are already closed and transmission
towers destroyed. [source: www.ippan.org.np/HPinNepal.html]
Climate change may not only affect where infrastructure is built but also how it is designed and
operated. It is vital to know where there is need for additional infrastructure keen to climate
protection, such as flood protection, interconnections in water supply, as well as retro-fitting to
improve resilience of existing infrastructure .Infrastructure assets are long-lived and have the
capacity to lock development patterns for a long time. Making infrastructure resilient to climate
change is an important and early adaptation challenge. This might not be easy and cheap task. It
requires sophisticated decision-making with what knowledge we about future climate effects at
the regional and local level.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
The past years has shown adverse effect of climate change in developing infrastructures in
Nepal. Hence it is necessary to foresee the problems created due to climate change on the
construction of hydropower in Nepal. This includes looking at the effects of climate change in
built, ongoing and future developing hydropower plant. This can give an insight to the city
planners, engineers to plan accordingly.
The possible solution to this problem can be:
Integration of climate change considerations into contracts on development of
hydropower
Identification of controlling factors of climate change that causes impacts on overall
hydropower plant.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/hydropower-140810094248-phpapp01/85/Impacts-of-Climate-Change-in-sustainability-of-hydropower-in-Nepal-2-320.jpg)
Impacts of Climate Change in sustainability of hydropower in Nepal
- 1. 1 Impacts of Climate Change in sustainability of hydropower in Nepal INTRODUCTION Change in the climatic patterns regionally or globally refers to climate change. A growing body of scientific literature provides unequivocal evidence that “climate change will continue for many decades, and even centuries, regardless of the success of global initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” (Natural Resources Canada, 2007, p 4). Therefore, it is essential to be conscious of climatic effects before and after starting any initiatives. Infrastructures are the physical assets that include communications, emergency services, energy, finance, food, government, health, education, civil protection, transport or water of infrastructure and the basis for human settlement. In case of Nepal, hydropower is one of the most important infrastructures. Nepal has a huge hydropower potential. In fact, the perennial nature of Nepali rivers and the steep gradient of the country's topography provide ideal conditions for the development of some of the world's largest hydroelectric projects. Climate change has already shown huge impacts on infrastructures like hydropower in recent years and can put their operation and reliability partially at risk. Looking at this trend, it is very likely to accelerate in the upcoming decades. Main threats to infrastructure assets include destruction caused by extreme weather events, which climate change may worsen. REAL PROBLEM The climate and weather of Nepal vary greatly spatially (across regions) and temporally (from one season to the other). The process of climate change, along with its anticipated changes in temperatures, precipitation patterns, wind conditions and the occurrence of extreme weather events, have clear inferences on every country’s built infrastructures like hydropower. Nepal has a huge hydropower potential so, the need for its investment and development over the coming decades is vital and enormous. Climate change does not change this need but can increase its costs. Therefore, it becomes crucial to protect these infrastructures, prominent to damages and prepare itself for building such plant that can sustain climatic changes in coming future.
- 2. 2 The geographical condition of Nepal is boon and curse. Boon in the case of generating high potential head for development of hydropower stations and curse because variation in geographical condition are more prone to disaster like flood and landslide. The current estimates show that Nepal has approximately 40,000 MW of economically feasible hydropower potential. However, the present situation is that Nepal has developed only approximately 600 MW of hydropower. The recent data shows there are almost 30 hydropower stations built in Nepal among which five power plants are already closed and transmission towers destroyed. [source: www.ippan.org.np/HPinNepal.html] Climate change may not only affect where infrastructure is built but also how it is designed and operated. It is vital to know where there is need for additional infrastructure keen to climate protection, such as flood protection, interconnections in water supply, as well as retro-fitting to improve resilience of existing infrastructure .Infrastructure assets are long-lived and have the capacity to lock development patterns for a long time. Making infrastructure resilient to climate change is an important and early adaptation challenge. This might not be easy and cheap task. It requires sophisticated decision-making with what knowledge we about future climate effects at the regional and local level. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS The past years has shown adverse effect of climate change in developing infrastructures in Nepal. Hence it is necessary to foresee the problems created due to climate change on the construction of hydropower in Nepal. This includes looking at the effects of climate change in built, ongoing and future developing hydropower plant. This can give an insight to the city planners, engineers to plan accordingly. The possible solution to this problem can be: Integration of climate change considerations into contracts on development of hydropower Identification of controlling factors of climate change that causes impacts on overall hydropower plant.
- 3. 3 Assessment of recognizing quality climate information and climate risk-management processes through climate change considerations. Assessment of adopted Early Warning System for Natural Disasters. Assessment on identification of hydropower plant that are at risk because of changing climate and are in need of retrofitting Assessment on identification of locations that may be vulnerable to climate change impacts, reviewing existing practices and use entirely new solutions Formal risk assessment and carry out risk management by increase the magnitude of design parameters or safety factors. Development of relative contingency plans for infrastructure failure. METHODOLOGY In order to obtain the solutions mentioned above, several methods can be applied. Following is the flow of a methodology that can be adopted. Planning Planning involves creating of a set of plans to help guide this project through the execution and closure phases of the project. The plans created during this phase shall be helpful to manage time, cost, quality, change, risk and issues. This also consists of selection of factors that must be considered. Identify the controlling factors Identification of controlling factors that controls the relationship between construction of hydropower and changing climate along with the necessary factors to undergo this project must be done at the initial phase of this project. Both qualitative and quantitative data are essential. Qualitative data includes data of climatic parameters like temperature, precipitation. Also it includes historical data of disaster like landslide, flood. This data can be collected from the related organization like DHM (Department of Hydrology and Meteorology), ICIMOD (International Center for Integrated Mountain Development) etc. The information about this infrastructure (built, destroyed, ongoing, future plan) shall be collected from Department of Electricity Development. The data thus collected can be used for hazard mapping, risk mapping.
- 4. 4 Through the study and analysis of those data controlling factors can be identified. The objective of hazard maps is to provide residents with the information on the range of possible damage and the disaster prevention activities. It is the important point to provide residents with understandable clear information. Risk mapping is a tool used by life insurers in the identification, control, and management of risk. Quantitative data can be collected through household interviews which can be conducted within selected community group members. This data can be helpful in going into the depth of impacts of climate change in local environment. Develop experiment plan An experimental plan must be prepared in order to explore, compare, explain and demonstrate the identified factors and move forward in methodologies with full assurance in preparing successful production from this project. Experiment must be carried out in small area as sample to formulate this larger area. Formulate plan The formulation of plan refers to formulating the experimental plan that has been verified in the proposed area. The plans are formulated into action in the real subjected area. Maps, charts and necessary statistical analysis must be prepared to visualize the impacts. Maps showing impacts of climate change in different hydropower plant must be prepared. The charts show the historical events of impacts. Conduct analysis The collected and prepared data can be used for analysis. It includes analyzing the information collected and processes them to give a meaningful production. Analysis must be done with the output produced such as maps, graphs, statistics and other collected information. This includes conducting initial descriptive analyses, refining and improving data as necessary, testing with planned assumptions and produce a sensible results. Finally documenting the analysis and finding must be done. Documenting information is especially important. Not only do procedures help ensure that tasks can be completed in a consistent and repeatable way, it also help to facilitate transfer of institutional knowledge.