December 06, 2021
13 h
In Peru, hydropower is the largest energy resource accounting for about 60% of the total energy production. Moreover, high rates of erosion and sediment transfer in the Andes lead to rapid accumulation of sediment in the hydropower reservoirs and a potentially severe decrease of the carryover storage. However, little is known to date concerning quantified assessments of erosion and deposition and how climatic changes influence these processes.
In this work, we use a hydrological model coupled to a sediment transport model to simulate future changes in discharge and river load in the Peruvian Western Andes. The Cañete River is studied as it plays an important role in the social and economic development of the region due to its provision of water and energy to rural and urban areas.