Decentralized water supply by reservoir network reduces power demand for water distribution in a semi-arid basin

In the Brazilian semi-arid region, thousands of small dams have been built over time to enhance water availability, accumulating water and hydraulic energy at high altitudes. Simulations were performed in this study to assess how the arrangement of reservoirs impacts on the power demand for water di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrological sciences journal 2019-01, Vol.64 (1), p.80-91
Main Authors: Nascimento, Antônia Tatiana Pinheiro do, Cavalcanti, Natália Holanda Maia, Castro, Bruno Parente Leitão de, Medeiros, Pedro Henrique Augusto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arid regions
Arid zones
Demand
Distribution
Electric power distribution
Energy efficiency
High altitude
Reservoirs
River basins
Rivers
Semi arid areas
Semiarid lands
Water availability
Water demand
Water distribution
Water engineering
Water shortages
Water supply
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Summary:In the Brazilian semi-arid region, thousands of small dams have been built over time to enhance water availability, accumulating water and hydraulic energy at high altitudes. Simulations were performed in this study to assess how the arrangement of reservoirs impacts on the power demand for water distribution in the Banabuiú River Basin (19[NARROW NO-BREAK SPACE]800[NO-BREAK SPACE]km2), Brazil. The power required to pump water from 1405 reservoirs to all districts with diffuse demands is 6.5[NO-BREAK SPACE]GWh/year, whereas in the scenario with only the 12 larger strategic reservoirs, the power demand reached 45.3[NO-BREAK SPACE]GWh/year. Alone, the largest reservoir in the basin can supply water to all districts. Nonetheless, in that scenario, the power demand would reach 195[NO-BREAK SPACE]GWh/year, which is 30 times the power required in the real reservoir arrangement. Thus, decentralization by small reservoirs not only promotes more democratic access to water, but also increases energy efficiency by storing it at higher altitudes and closer to the diffuse demands.
ISSN:0262-6667
2150-3435
DOI:10.1080/02626667.2019.1566728