Three Gorges Dam
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This Article Appeared in a Journal Published by Elsevier. the Attached
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier’s archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright Author's personal copy e n v i r o n m e n t a l s c i e n c e & p o l i c y 1 4 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 1 1 3 2 – 1 1 3 8 available at www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/envsci The environmental changes and mitigation actions in the Three Gorges Reservoir region, China a, b,1 Quanfa Zhang *, Zhiping Lou a Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China b Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t The Three Gorges Dam (TGD) is by far the world’s largest hydroelectric scheme. Due to its Published on line 17 August 2011 unprecedented magnitude, the TGD has been controversial ever since it was proposed in the early 20th century and building commenced in 1993. -
Visualizing Hydropower Across the Himalayas: Mapping in a Time of Regulatory Decline
HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Volume 34 Number 2 Article 9 December 2014 Visualizing Hydropower Across the Himalayas: Mapping in a time of Regulatory Decline Kelly D. Alley Auburn University, [email protected] Ryan Hile University of Utah Chandana Mitra Auburn University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya Recommended Citation Alley, Kelly D.; Hile, Ryan; and Mitra, Chandana. 2014. Visualizing Hydropower Across the Himalayas: Mapping in a time of Regulatory Decline. HIMALAYA 34(2). Available at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol34/iss2/9 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by the DigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Visualizing Hydropower Across the Himalayas: Mapping in a time of Regulatory Decline Acknowledgements Earlier drafts of this paper were presented at the BAPA-BEN International Conference on Water Resources in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2013 and for the AAA panel on Developing the Himalaya in 2012. The authors appreciate the comments and support provided by members who attended these sessions. Our mapping project has been supported by the College of Liberal Arts and the Center for Forest Sustainability at Auburn University. This research article is available in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol34/iss2/9 Visualizing Hydropower across the Himalayas: Mapping in a time of Regulatory Decline Kelly D. -
Summary of Dr. Wang Qiming's Presentation on Three Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam: Development and Conflicts Summary of Dr. Wang Qiming’s presentation on Three Gorges Dam On Wednesday June 12 2012 Dr. Wang Qiming, Science Counsellor from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China spoke to the CCFS-O on the topic of the Three Gorges Dam: Development and Conflicts. His Power Point slides are posted on the CCFS-O web site for those who wish more details. The Three Gorges dam, completed in 2009, is well known both as an engineering marvel and for the controversies that surrounded its construction. It holds a number of world records including: largest dam, largest hydroelectric generation facility, and largest displacement of population for the construction of a dam. Dr. Wang began by setting the historic and geographic context for water management in China. China is and has been an agricultural nation for thousands of years. As far back as 256 BC China built the Dujiangyan dams and irrigation systems to irrigate over 5,300 square kilometers of farmland near Chengdu. That system is still on operation today. In 609 AD China completed the Grand Canal, between Hangzhou in the south and Beijing in the north. This ambitious north south venture linked six river systems in order to move shipping between the south and the north of China. Both the need and the potential for these water management systems arise from China’s geography and climate. In geographic terms China is composed of 3 tiers: a low eastern plateau, a middle plateau and the high plateau of Tibet and Qinghai. -
Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant
Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant The Three Gorges Dam Project (TGP) is the world's largest hydropower complex project located in one of the three gorges of the Yangtze River: the Xilingxia Gorge in Hubei province, China. The gorge controls approximately one million square kilometres of drainage area and averages a runoff of 451 billion cubic metres annually. China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGPC) acts as the legal entity for TGP and is responsible for the construction, operation and financing of the project. Construction on the Three Gorges Dam was completed in 2008. The dam stands 185m high and 2,309m wide, making it the world's largest hydro plant, well ahead of Brazil's 12,600MW Itaipu installation. A total of 32 main power generators are planned to operate off the dam, of which 12 sets on the right bank and 14 sets on the left were installed in 2006 and 2008, respectively. They were operational in October 2008 and generated a total of 18,300MW. Another six generators are being installed underground and are expected to become fully operational by the end of 2011. These six were added to the project in 2002. The first three became operational in June 2011. The third generator unit (Unit 30) completed a 72 hour test run in July 2011. The first underground unit (Unit 32) began operations in May 2011 and the second (Unit 31) commenced commercial operations in June 2011. Once the additional generators are all installed, the plant will produce 22,500MW of electricity. Three Gorges project The Three Gorges Dam project involves harnessing the Yangtze River, Asia's longest stretch of water, to generate prodigious amounts of electricity. -
Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China: a Cost and Benefit Analysis
Economic Analysis of Public Policy Professor Yoshitsugu Kanemoto Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo Final Report Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China: A Cost and Benefit Analysis Felipe Francisco De Souza Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo Baozhi Gu, Kenji Kurotobi Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo Yuri Kim Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo August 2013 Executive Summary Situated on a canyon known as the Three Gorges in Hubei, China, Yangtze River’s Three Gorges Dam is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity (22,500 MW). The project was initiated by the Chinese government in 1994, with the support of different international cooperation agencies, for three main reasons. First of all, it would generate hydroelectricity to meet China’s rapidly increasing demand. Second, the Three Gorges Dam would protect millions of people living along the river from potential floods. And finally, it would transform a 600- kilometre stretch of the fast-flowing river into a smooth navigable waterway for vessels and provide business opportunities to western landlocked provinces. The Chinese government regards this project as a historic engineering, social and economic success, with the design of sophisticated large turbines, and a move toward limiting greenhouse gas emissions. However, the dam has been a controversial topic, the reason why a cost and benefit analysis was developed to understand all possible variables related to this gigantic project and its complicated development process. For the evaluation of major benefit components, special care was taken to understand flood control (and dam’s capacity to control 100 years events); electricity generation (and the reduction of CO2 emissions); and the enhanced shipping capacity (allowing the transit of large quantities of cargos). -
China's Rising Hydropower Demand Challenges Water Sector
www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN China’s rising hydropower demand challenges water sector Junguo Liu1, Dandan Zhao1, P.W. Gerbens-Leenes2 & Dabo Guan3 Received: 18 September 2014 Demand for hydropower is increasing, yet the water footprints (WFs) of reservoirs and hydropower, Accepted: 20 May 2015 and their contributions to water scarcity, are poorly understood. Here, we calculate reservoir WFs Published: 09 July 2015 (freshwater that evaporates from reservoirs) and hydropower WFs (the WF of hydroelectricity) in China based on data from 875 representative reservoirs (209 with power plants). In 2010, the reservoir WF totaled 27.9 × 109 m3 (Gm3), or 22% of China’s total water consumption. Ignoring the reservoir WF seriously underestimates human water appropriation. The reservoir WF associated with industrial, domestic and agricultural WFs caused water scarcity in 6 of the 10 major Chinese river basins from 2 to 12 months annually. The hydropower WF was 6.6 Gm3 yr−1 or 3.6 m3 of water to produce a GJ (109 J) of electricity. Hydropower is a water intensive energy carrier. As a response to global climate change, the Chinese government has promoted a further increase in hydropower energy by 70% by 2020 compared to 2012. This energy policy imposes pressure on available freshwater resources and increases water scarcity. The water-energy nexus requires strategic and coordinated implementations of hydropower development among geographical regions, as well as trade-off analysis between rising energy demand and water use sustainability. Energy and water resources are an important nexus recognized in academic and policy debates1–3. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) state that the availability of an adequate water supply is an increasingly important crite- rion for assessing the physical, economic and environmental viability of energy projects4. -
Geographical Overview of the Three Gorges Dam and Reservoir, China—Geologic Hazards and Environmental Impacts
Geographical Overview of the Three Gorges Dam and Reservoir, China—Geologic Hazards and Environmental Impacts Open-File Report 2008–1241 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Geographical Overview of the Three Gorges Dam and Reservoir, China— Geologic Hazards and Environmental Impacts By Lynn M. Highland Open-File Report 2008–1241 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Highland, L.M., 2008, Geographical overview of the Three Gorges dam and reservoir, China—Geologic hazards and environmental impacts: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1241, 79 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1241/ iii Contents Slide 1...............................................................................................................................................................1 -
Stability Assessment of the Three-Gorges Dam Foundation, China, Using Physical and Numerical Modeling—Part I
ARTICLE IN PRESS International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences 40 (2003) 609–631 Stability assessment of the Three-Gorges Dam foundation, China, using physical and numerical modeling—Part I: physical model tests Jian Liua,b,*, Xia-Ting Fenga, Xiu-Li Dingb, Jie Zhangb, Deng-Ming Yueb a Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiaohongshan, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China b Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430019, China Accepted 31 March 2003 Abstract Foundation stability is one of the most important factors influencing the safety of a concrete dam and has been one of the key technical problems in the design of the Three-Gorges Project. The major difficulties lie in two facts. The first one is that the dam foundation consists of rock blocks, with joints and so-called ‘rock bridges’ and the gently dipping joints play a critical role in the foundation stability against sliding. The second one is that, even in the regions where the gently dipping fractures are most developed, there are no through-going sliding paths in the rock mass due to the existence of the rock bridges; so the dam could slide only if some of the rock bridges fail, so as to create at least one through-going sliding path. To date, due to unavoidable shortcomings in physical and numerical modeling techniques, there is not a single satisfactory method to solve the problem completely. For this reason, the integration of multiple methods was adopted in this study and proved to be an effective and reliable approach. This Part I paper describes work based on the results of geological investigations and mechanical tests, relating to the geological and geomechanical models of the Three-Gorges Dam, and then a systematic study procedure was developed to carry out the stability assessment project. -
Is the Three-Gorges Dam Sustainable? LO: to Investigate How Human Activity Is Affecting the Longest River in Asia
Is the Three-Gorges dam sustainable? LO: To investigate how human activity is affecting the longest river in Asia The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia, and the third- longest in the world. It flows for 6,418 kilometres (3,988 mi) from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai Starter: What connects these images? The beginning of a river is called the source. In this case the Yangtze forms due to being fed by glaciers (huge masses rivers of ice) high up in the mountains of Tibet. October 1, 1949 – People’s Republic of China established with Mao Zedong as its first President. 1950-1955: Mao favors pro-natalistic population policy. Combined with falling death rates, it causes a large increase in population. 1958 - Mao Zedong launches the five plan dubbed "The Great Leap Forward" which collectivizes farming and new labour intensive industries are started. The plan is an economic disaster and is abandoned after only two years. 1959-1961: "Great Leap Forward" triggers largest famine in human history with an estimated 25-35 million deaths. 1970's - first attempts at state family planning programmes. These had some success and average family size fell to three children By the late 1970's, the government had adopted the slogan 'later, longer, fewer' meaning later marriages, longer gaps between children and fewer Aschildren. the river travels throughout1979-1980: Introduction of China's China strict "One-Child" it family planning program at in several provinces and in 1980 it was adopted at national level. -
On China's Rivers
102 A The “Last Report” On China’s Rivers Executive Summary By Bo Li, Songqiao Yao, Yin Yu and Qiaoyu Guo English Translation released in March 2014 This report is issued jointly by the following initiating and supporting organizations: Initiating organizations: Friends of Nature Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs Green Watershed SHAN SHUI Chengdu Urban Rivers Association Supported by: Nature University Xiamen Green Cross Association Huaihe River Eco-Environmental Science Research Center Green Zhejiang Saunders’ Gull Conservation Society of Panjin City Green Panjin Eco Canton EnviroFriends Institute of Environmental Science and Technology Dalian Environmental Protection Volunteers Association Green Stone Environmental Action Network Greenovation Hub Wild China Film English translation support from: China Environment Forum, Woodrow Wilson Center 1 1 First Bend of the Yangtze River FOREWORD In January 2013, the third year of China’s Twelfth • Reduce coal consumption as a percentage of prima- Five-Year Plan, the State Council released its 12th ry energy to below 65% by 2017; and, Five-Year Plan for Energy Development1, which • Construct 160 GW of hydropower capacity and to included targets that aim to shift China’s energy mix raise nationwide hydropower capacity to 290 GW. to one that pollutes less yet still fuels the country’s growing energy needs. Specifically, by 2015 the Plan If the Plan’s hydropower targets are to be met, by proposes to: 2015, nationwide conventional hydropower installed capacity will reach 48% of the technically exploitable • Increase the proportion of non-fossil fuels in overall hydropower potential, and 72% of the economically primary energy use to 11.4 percent; recoverable potential. -
China - Sustainable Energy Sector
China - Sustainable Energy Sector Summarized Fiche Date 24 October 2011 China - "Sustainable Energy Sector" by Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Beijing, Consulate General in Shanghai, Guangzhou & Hong Kong, NBSO in Nanjing, Wuhan, Tianjin, Qingdao, Dalian & Jinan and NABSO Kunming - 24 October 2011 Colophon Contact Bij Ambassade Beijing : Nga Ho Lam, Trade Assistant T +86 10 8532 0201 [email protected] www.hollandinchina.org Liangmahe Nanlu no. 4 | Chaoyang District | 100600 Beijing China Bij NL EVD Internationaal : Kamal Afarmach, marktadviseur China T +31 088 602 80 00 T +31 070 778 88 89 [email protected] www.agentschapnl.nl/evdinternationaal NL EVD Internationaal Juliana van Stolberglaan 148 | 2595 CL Den Haag P.O. Box 20105 | 2500 EC Den Haag Author(s) Focal point: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Beijing Other participating offices: Consulate General in Shanghai, Guangzhou & Hong Kong, NBSO in Nanjing, Wuhan, Tianjin, Dalian & Jinan and NABSO Kunming Pagina 3 van 38 China - "Sustainable Energy Sector" by Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Beijing, Consulate General in Shanghai, Guangzhou & Hong Kong, NBSO in Nanjing, Wuhan, Tianjin, Qingdao, Dalian & Jinan and NABSO Kunming - 24 October 2011 Index Colophon 3 Index 5 1 Summary of general developments and opportunities for the Dutch energy sector 6 2 Investment and development plans of Chinese local governments in the energy sector 8 3 Investment and development plans of Chinese companies in the energy sector 9 3.1 Renewable energy -
Policy Framework Research on Improving Service Functions of Aquatic Ecosystems
178 Ecosystem Management and Green Development Chapter 6 Policy Framework Research on Improving Service Functions of Aquatic Ecosystems 6.1 Characteristics of China’s Water Resources China’s water resource mainly exists in surface aquatic ecosystems including rivers, lakes, reservoirs and swamps, and in ground aquatic ecosystems. China’s river systems con- sist chiefly of the Songhuajiang River, the Liaohe River, the Haihe River, the Yellow River, the Huaihe River, the Yangtze River and the Pearl River (Zhujiang River). The fresh lake ecosystems include the Poyanghu Lake, the Dongtinghu Lake, the Hongzehu Lake, the Chaohu Lake, the Honghu Lake, the Nansihu Lake, the Baiyangdian Lake, the Hulunhu Lake, the Changbaishantianchi Lake, the Jingpohu Lake, the Dianchi Lake, and the Bosi- tenghu Lake, etc.. Various factors, such as climate conditions, geography, and socio-economic conditions of the large population, affect China’s water resources. The following sections present the characteristics of China’s water resources. 6.1.1 Rich Water Resources but a Low per-Capita Water Availability The total volume of China’s average annual precipitation is 6 085.4 billion m3, which is equivalent to a rainfall depth of 643mm. China’s annual average water resources totals 2 774.1 billion m3, taking the sixth place in the world with a surface water resources volume of 2 669.1 billion m3, which is equivalent to a runoff depth of 282mm and ground water re- sources volume of 808.7 billion m3. With a vast territory and large population, China’s vol- umes of water resources per capita and per mu (1 mu=666.6 m2) are 2 200 m3 and 1 440 m3 respectively, accounting for only one quarter and 60% of the world average.