The impact of climate change on hydropower generation: a case study of Ghana's Akosombo Dam

Abstract

Climate change has become one of the biggest challenges confronting the world’s economic, social and environmental development efforts today. Responses to these challenges normally fall into two broad categories, namely adaptation and mitigation. Drying lakes, dams, rivers, flooding and sea level rises are some of the climate change induced threats facing humanity and their communities. Typically associated with dams is the reduction in the water level due to an increase in temperature. This is affecting energy generation, particularly within the realm of hydropower facilities. It is against this background that this study investigated both the potential and present threats of climate change to hydropower generation using Ghana’s hydropower facilities through a case study of the Akosombo Dam. In achieving this, the study set out four research objectives. To achieve the four research objectives, the study adopted sound scientific approaches including the use of a mixed-method approach to gather both qualitative and quantitative data from five government organisations and some community members living within the Akosombo Dam catchment area. The data were gathered through administering questionnaires, interviews and field observations. The data included both primary and secondary data which were subjected through sound statistical analysis using advanced Excel and “R”. As part of the findings, the research identified the challenge of a “knowledge gap” in climate change related issues amongst significant members of the community. A statistical analysis of the climate data indicated increasing temperature and sporadic rainfall patterns within the vicinity of the Akosombo Dam and its surrounding areas. The data also revealed that there are institutional climate change policies developed by the managers of the Akosombo Dam to manage the Dam and national climate change. These environmental related policies are aimed towards the management of climate change in Ghana. As part of the recommendations, the study recommended that Ghana’s climate change policies should be revised to be attuned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the tackle against climate change which is aimed to be achieved by the year 2030 To enhance the management of hydropower, the study proposed the use of three novel comprehensive conceptual climate change management adaptation frameworks namely: integration and coordination network framework, adaptation framework of interaction and adaptation framework of outcomes. The study recommended the Volta River Authority to have its own climate change policy and in addition adopt the three novel climate change management adaptation frameworks to manage the Akosombo Dam in the current wave of the climate change effects.