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The urgency of assessing the greenhouse gas budgets of hydroelectric reservoirs in China

Nature Climate Change volume 3, pages 708–712 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Already the largest generator of hydroelectricity, China is accelerating dam construction to increase the share of hydroelectricity in its primary energy mix to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we review the evidence on emissions of GHGs, particularly methane, from the Three Gorges Reservoir, and argue that although the hydroelectric reservoirs may release large amounts of methane, they contribute significantly to greenhouse gas reduction by substitution of thermal power generation in China. Nonetheless, more systematic monitoring and modelling studies on greenhouse gas emissions from representative reservoirs are necessary to better understand the climate impact of hydropower development in China.

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Figure 1: Distribution of hydropower resources and the major hydroelectric dams in China's mainland.
Figure 2: Schematic of the major biological, chemical and physical processes involved in the production, consumption and atmospheric release of CO2 and CH4 in a typical deep reservoir.
Figure 3: Cumulative GHG emissions from the TGR and from equivalent thermal alternatives for electricity production over 100 years.

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Acknowledgements

This study is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 41202251, 41073079 and 41121063), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (One Hundred Talents and Interdisciplinary Collaboration Team programs). This is contribution No. IS-1602 from GIGCAS.

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Yuanan Hu & Hefa Cheng

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  1. Yuanan Hu
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Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Correspondence to Hefa Cheng.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Hu, Y., Cheng, H. The urgency of assessing the greenhouse gas budgets of hydroelectric reservoirs in China. Nature Clim Change 3, 708–712 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1831

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