Recent Hydrological Droughts in Brazil and Their Impact on Hydropower Generation

Brazil has endured the worst droughts in recorded history over the last decade, resulting in severe socioeconomic and environmental impacts. The country is heavily reliant on water resources, with 77.7% of water consumed for agriculture (irrigation and livestock), 9.7% for the industry, and 11.4% fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water (Basel) 2022-02, Vol.14 (4), p.601
Main Authors: Cuartas, Luz Adriana, Cunha, Ana Paula Martins do Amaral, Alves, Jessica Anastácia, Parra, Larissa Milena Pinto, Deusdará-Leal, Karinne, Costa, Lidiane Cristina Oliveira, Molina, Ruben Dario, Amore, Diogo, Broedel, Elisangela, Seluchi, Marcelo Enrique, Cunningham, Christopher, Alvalá, Regina Célia dos Santos, Marengo, José Antonio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
21st century
Agricultural production
Alternative energy sources
Aquatic resources
Basins
Brazil
Climate change
Drought
Droughts
Electric power generation
Electricity distribution
Groundwater
High temperature
Hydroelectric plants
Hydroelectric power
Hydroelectric power generation
Hydroelectric power plants
Hydrology
Hydrometeorology
Irrigation water
Livestock
Power plants
Precipitation
Rain
Rain and rainfall
Rainfall
Rainy season
Renewable resources
Stream flow
Water availability
Water resources
Water shortages
Water-power
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Summary:Brazil has endured the worst droughts in recorded history over the last decade, resulting in severe socioeconomic and environmental impacts. The country is heavily reliant on water resources, with 77.7% of water consumed for agriculture (irrigation and livestock), 9.7% for the industry, and 11.4% for human supply. Hydropower plants generate about 64% of all electricity consumed. The aim of this study was to improve the current state of knowledge regarding hydrological drought patterns in Brazil, hydrometeorological factors, and their effects on the country’s hydroelectric power plants. The results show that since the drought occurred in 2014/2015 over the Southeast region of Brazil, several basins were sharply impacted and remain in a critical condition until now. Following that event, other regions have experienced droughts, with critical rainfall deficit and high temperatures, causing a pronounced impact on water availability in many of the studied basins. Most of the hydropower plants end the 2020–2021 rainy season by operating at a fraction of their total capacity, and thus the country’s hydropower generation was under critical regime.
ISSN:2073-4441
2073-4441
DOI:10.3390/w14040601