Optimizing Hydropower Operations While Sustaining Stream Temperatures and Ecosystem Functions
Development of realistic hydropower optimization decision support tools for sustainable hydropower.
The Regents of the University of California, Merced
Recipient
Merced, CA
Recipient Location
Senate District
27th
Assembly District
$640,395
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The researchers developed a hydropower optimization-modeling framework that considers institutional and physical constraints placed on hydropower operations. The modeling framework links energy and hydrologic models as well as permit requirements for hydropower facilities in the Upper San Joaquin, Merced, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus rivers under various climate change and management scenarios. To identify impacts at a scale relevant to facility operations, the researchers developed and ran sequences of shorter climatic periods to replicate extended droughts and various combinations of wet and dry periods. The researchers developed and ran management scenarios such as meeting flow requirements as well as simulating energy prices for 2009 and 2045. The final report has been submitted an is in review.
View Final ReportThe Issue
California has traditionally depended heavily on hydropower as a flexible generation source. However, a warming climate will alter the magnitude and timing of precipitation and runoff, decreasing hydropower generation. Optimization models have been used as a tool to explore ways to maximize hydropower generation and revenue. However, these models do not address the realities of a warming climate and other generation constraints, such as required downstream water temperatures or flow levels. This project is developing an optimization model that addresses the economic and environmental constraints on hydropower generation, as well as the legal limitations on these operations.
Project Innovation
This project is part of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center for Water-Energy Technologies (CERC-WET), co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and China. This project is one of several EPIC-funded research endeavors addressing sustainable hydropower under a warming climate. The project develops an optimization model to ensure efficient hydropower operations, but this model will differ from existing models by taking into account different climate scenarios and environmental and regulatory constraints.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
Prior studies of the trade-offs between electricity generation and environmental protection have been based on models that do not take real-world policy constraints such as legal and regulatory limitations into account. Additionally, this research will create models to optimize hydropower generation that account for changes in precipitation and runoff due to a warming climate while sustaining downstream environments. These tools will inform decision-making in the context of trade-offs of electricity generation and environmental protection under both a changing climate and relevant legal and regulatory constraints.
Affordability
Hydropower is a low-cost source of clean electricity. Maximizing hydropower production in a warming climate can reduce the state's reliance on other sources of electricity that are more costly.
Reliability
Greater penetration of renewable energy in California's electricity grid relies in part on ancillary services from hydropower. Maximizing hydropower production can support greater penetration of renewable energy into the grid.
Key Project Members
Josh Viers
Christina Christensen
