Implications of large hydro dams for decarbonising Ghana's energy consistent with Paris climate objectives

• DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2022.10.011
• Publication Date: 2022-11-03T05:10:14Z
• Authors: Jaise Kuriakose; Kevin Anderson; Deborah Darko; Emmanuel Obuobie; Alice Larkin; Salifu Addo
• Keywords: Renewable energy; 330; Economics; Optimal Operation of Water Resources Systems; Ocean Engineering; 02 engineering and technology; Greenhouse gas; Environmental protection; Quantum mechanics; 7. Clean energy; Environmental science; 12. Responsible consumption; Climate change mitigation; Engineering; Electricity; Natural resource economics; 11. Sustainability; Indoor Air Pollution in Developing Countries; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; Climate change; Hydro-Economic Models; Biology; Water Science and Technology; Electricity generation; Ecology; Physics; 1. No poverty; Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage; Power (physics); Pollution; Integrated Management of Water, Energy, and Food Resources; 13. Climate action; FOS: Biological sciences; Electrical engineering; Environmental Science; Physical Sciences; Hydropower

Hydropower is a renewable source of electricity generation that common feature Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), especially in developing countries. However, far from benign, research shows significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions emanate shallow reservoirs when they are sited the tropics. Ghana provides case study for exploring implications hydro reservoir within future energy system consistent with Paris climate objectives. Being fast-developing country, needs to generate amounts low-carbon meet growing demand over coming 30 years. Analysis existing Ghanaian dams (Akosombo, Kpong and Bui) forthcoming Pwalugu dam suggests their average intensities (gCO2/kWh) similar those coal-fired power stations during first years operating lifetime. The demonstrates cumulative (post-2020) carbon dioxide planned identified resources will consume 40 % Ghana's Paris-compliant budget, yet provide just under 1 its (under scenarios). analysis new hydropower tropics can significantly reduce emission space available other sectors such as transport industry faced highly restricted budget. In conclusion, specifically, rather than constructing more dams, efficiency diversifying supply options, including floating solar power, would deliver an transition much closely aligned goals.