Climate change and hydropower resilience in Nepal: an integrated modeling approach in the Madi River Basin

Abstract

Responding to Nepal’s hydropower sector’s vulnerability to climate change, this study investigates its impact on energy security, focusing on the Madi River Basin’s snow-fed river systems. This study conducted a rigorous analysis of the basin’s historical and future hydroclimatic trends, using the linear scaling method to evaluate and correct inherent biases in 13 GCMs, resulting in the selection of 6 BCMs with above-satisfactory performance. Future projections reveal an increase in annual precipitation across all timeframes with a higher increment in SSP585 by the end of the century, and a temperature rise ranging from 1.8 to 3.5 °C from the baseline in the far future under moderate- to high-emission scenarios. These hydroclimatic projections are then forced into the calibrated soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model with very good performance (both R2 and NSE greater than 0.8). The streamflow projection demonstrates an overall increasing trend, marked by significant flow reduction in early months and pronounced monsoon peaks. The analysis of three distinct hydropower projects reveals unique challenges and opportunities, underscoring the heterogeneous nature of projects and the need for location-specific planning and strategic management. This study provides crucial insights for sustainable development in renewable energy, laying the foundation for future research and policy in similar hydroclimatic settings.