Re-optimization and reoperation study of the

Akosombo and Kpong dams

Formulation of optimal scenarios

Thor Windham-Wright
 OVERVIEW
• Dam reoperation concept
• WEAP model set up
• Results reoperation scenarios
• Hydropower production
• Irrigation demand
• Environmental flow
• CC scenario results
• Additional turbines results
REOPERATION CONCEPT
 REOPERATION CONCEPT

Reoperated dam
 WEAP MODEL SETUP – LOWER VOLTA
Inflows:
• Water balance (historical flow)
• ClimateChange scenarios
• 17% increase in streamflow
• 17% decrease in streamflow
Demands:
• Hydropower
• Irrigation
• Environmental Flow
4 Restoration scenarios
 WEAP MODEL CALIBRATION

Model Efficiency 1981-2000 (Q) 1981-2000 (HP) 2007 (Q-Daily) 2010 (Q-Daily)

R2 0.987 0.737 0.997 0.986

Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency 0.984 0.664 0.993 0.979
 WEAP MODEL RESULTS
Scenario Total (2016-2050) Maximum (2016- Minimum (2016- Average (2016-
2050) 2050) 2050)
GWh % of Ref. GWh % of Ref. GWh % of Ref. GWh % of Ref.
Reference 183,688 0% 6,337 0% 835 0% 5,248 0%
S1 - Hydropower Optimisation 184,082 0% 6,337 0% 835 0% 5,259 0%
S2 - Flow up to 2010 Spills 123,317 -33% 4,563 -28% 835 0% 3,523 -33%
S3 - Maintaining sufficient water for irrigation 102,319 -44% 3,832 -40% 835 0% 2,923 -44%
S4 - Natural flow - Maximizing ecosystem Services 61,607 -66% 2,123 -66% 661 -21% 1,760 -66%

• Increasing levels of releasing

restoration hydrographs affect
hydropower production
• Minimum hydropower
production of 6GWh per day is
affected by S2, S3 and S4
• Irrigation demands met 99% of
the time for all scenarios
 WEAP MODEL RESULTS – CC SCENARIOS
• Increasing streamflows are
able to generate more
hydropower
• Decreasing streamflows affect
hydropower production
• Change +/- 8%
 WEAP MODEL RESULTS - TURBINES
Scenario Total (2016-2050) Maximum (2016-2050) Minimum (2016-2050) Average (2016-2050)
S3 - with cc 17% increase in streamflow 114,372 -38% 4,118 -35% 835 0% 3,268 -38%
S3 - 1 Extra Turbine with cc 17% increase in 121,623 -34% 4,489 -29% 835 0% 3,475 -34%
streamflow
S3 - 3 Extra Turbines with cc 17% increase in 123,342 -33% 4,964 -22% 835 0% 3,524 -33%
streamflow
S3 - 5 Extra Turbines with cc 17% increase in 125,243 -32% 5,437 -14% 835 0% 3,578 -32%
streamflow

• Adding additional turbines

restores hydropower
production, close to S2
levels
• Incremental benefits of
extra turbines is decreasing
when adding more
 WEAP MODEL RESULTS
• Environmental flows
• Irrigation supply
• % of time minimum VRA hydropower is produced
 •
•
•
•

….
• Scenario 5 (example)
Minimum 6 GWh per day
Dry season flow (650m3/s)

Daily Avrage Hydropower Generation (GWh)

10
15
20
25

0
5
Day 1
3% of the years the dam spills

Day 10
Reference

Day 19
Day 28
Day 37
Day 46
Day 55
Day 65
Day 74
Day 83
Day 92
Day 101
Day 110
Day 119
Day 128
S3 - Maintaining sufficient water for irrigation

Day 137
Day 146
Day 155
Day 164
Day 173
Day 182
Day 191
Day 200
Day 209
Day 218
Day 227
WEAP MODEL RESULTS

Day 236
Day 245
Day 254
Day 263
Day 272
Day 281
Day 290
Day 299
Minimum Electrical Output required

Day 308
Day 317
Day 326
Day 335
Day 344
Day 353
Day 362
S3 - 5 Extra Turbines with cc 17% increase in streamflow
 KEY MESSAGES
• Providing restoration hydrographs to the Lower Volta severely affects
hydropower production
• Climate change scenarios change hydropower production by +/- 8%
• None of the proposed scenarios (except S1) is able to provide the
minimum power generation of 6GWh throughout the year
Thank you for your attention