Exploring synergies in the water-food-energy nexus by using an integrated hydro-economic optimization model for the Lancang-Mekong River basin

Pierre Do; Fuqiang Tian; Tingju Zhu; Bahtiyor Zohidov; Guangheng Ni; Hui Lu; Hui Liu

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137996

Exploring synergies in the water-food-energy nexus by using an integrated hydro-economic optimization model for the Lancang-Mekong River basin

Sci Total Environ. 2020 Aug 1:728:137996. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137996. Epub 2020 Mar 17.

Authors

Pierre Do¹, Fuqiang Tian², Tingju Zhu³, Bahtiyor Zohidov⁴, Guangheng Ni⁵, Hui Lu⁶, Hui Liu⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: dodmp10@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.
² Department of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: tianfq@tsinghua.edu.cn.
³ ZJU-UIUC Institute, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China. Electronic address: tingjuzhu@intl.zju.edu.cn.
⁴ Department of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
⁵ Department of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: ghni@tsinghua.edu.cn.
⁶ Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: luhui@tsinghua.edu.cn.
⁷ China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, China.

PMID: 32570321
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137996

Abstract

The Water-Food-Energy nexus study identifies developmental challenges and trade-offs present along the transboundary river basins. Intensive reservoir development for hydropower production impacts existing actors in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin. Concerns from these stakeholders highlight three major trade-offs that occur between hydropower and irrigation (HP-AG), hydropower and fisheries (HP-F), and irrigation and fisheries (AG-F). Dam construction has an impact not only on power production but also on ecosystems and ultimately the livelihood of people. In this study, we quantify the effects of reservoir operation on hydropower generation, irrigated crop production and fisheries yield in the Tonle Sap lake through a novel hydro-economic model at the whole basin scale. Our main finding is that trade-offs can be turned into synergetic opportunities. First, the dam operation can increase water availability for irrigation without severely harming hydropower production, raising irrigated crop revenue by 49% and reducing crop losses during droughts by 30%. Second, eco-friendly management increases fisheries yield by up to 75%, but decreases both irrigated crop production (-48%) and power production (-17%). Reservoirs can, therefore, benefit the whole basin by releasing more water in months with high irrigation demand (April and December) and by minimizing the adverse effects of flow fluctuations on the livelihood of farmers and fishers living downstream. Our results also reveal the overlooked trade-off between irrigated agriculture and fisheries. Cross-sectoral and transboundary partnerships should strengthen stakeholder participation in decision-making. Local solutions such as enhanced reservoir operation can respond to the broader global issue of natural resource trade-offs and sharing. Our alternative narrative enhances the dialogue about fair and efficient water use among Mekong riparian countries.

Keywords: Fisheries; Hydropower; Irrigation; Mekong; Nexus; Synergy.