Analysis and calculation of water consumption of hydropower plants in Lancang-Mekong River basin
摘要
To compare the differences in water resource consumption among hydropower projects in the Lancang-Mekong River basin, we chose 37 hydropower plants as examples. Based on an analysis of remote sensing data, the water footprints of these hydropower plants in 2015 were analyzed using the improved water footprint method. The results revealed that the hydropower plants in Lancang River basin, which have the smallest water footprint of hydropower plants in China, indicating a high efficiency of electricity production. In contrast, the hydropower plants in the Mekong River basin located in Laos and Thailand had a larger water footprint, suggesting a low efficiency of electricity production and high consumption of water resources. Therefore, from the perspective of power generation efficiency and water resources consumption, the upstream section in China is more suitable for hydropower development, and the influence of water resources consumption in hydropower should be appropriately considered in downstream countries.