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analysis energy

Grand Ethiopian renaissance hydro-electric dam

Rainfall clusters represent large areas that There are already examples of this happening. throughout Africa, studies of the impact on
experience similar rainfall patterns. Sometimes In December 2017 Malawi’s state owned hydropower generally show high sensitivities.
this happens because they are influenced by electricity company saw power output
climate phenomena like El-Niño events, where plummeting after a severe drought. Malawi
ocean and atmospheric shifts in the Pacific relies almost entirely on hydropower.
Ocean influence weather and climate across And during the 2015-16 El Niño event, These new findings, together
the tropics. This includes much of eastern and Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe all with the increasing importance
southern Africa. experienced electricity outages due in part to of hydropower and the potential
reduced rainfall. for increasing levels of rainfall
Climate risks must be built into planning
For example, the Nile and Zambezi, variability under climate change,
where multiple dams are planned Infrastructure around the world is being put underscore the need to incorporate
to the test as a result of new combinations
on the same river channels, lie of intensity and duration of extreme weather climate risks into infrastructure
in the same rainfall clusters. This associated with climate change. It’s therefore planning in Africa. (Courtesy of The
means that dry years will affect critical that the resilience of infrastructure is Conversation Africa).
storage in all the dams. This will tested. This is particularly true when it comes
lessen their ability to refill fully. This to river flow in many of Africa’s river basins
could create a significant challenge because they are highly sensitive to changes in Declan Conway, London School of Economics
for the supply of hydropower. rainfall. Although climate model projections of and Political Science
future rainfall still include wetting and drying

AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 21, Issue 20, 2017 | 17