Optimizing multi-objective reservoir operations for carbon reduction, power generation, and ecological protection of mega cascade reservoirs
Journal
Journal of Cleaner Production
Journal Volume
535
ISSN
0959-6526
Date Issued
2025-12
Author(s)
Abstract
The river mega cascade reservoirs play a pivotal role in water resource management, fulfilling multiple objectives such as ecological protection, power generation, navigation, and flood control. Efficiently managing the drawdown water levels across these reservoirs is crucial for maximizing water utilization and optimizing basin-wide benefits. The study presents an innovative approach for multi-objective reservoir operations that integrates ecological, carbon reduction, and hydropower generation goals. A comprehensive optimization model was developed, targeting the minimization of the adjusted annual proportional flow deviation, suppression of carbon emissions, and maximization of power generation. The evolutionary optimization algorithm was utilized to address this model, producing a collection of Pareto solutions. The entropy-based decision-making analysis was then utilized to select the compromised solution. The results demonstrate that the compromised solution outperforms the practical scheme, achieving reductions in amended annual proportion flow deviation by 21.3 %–31.7 %, lowering carbon emissions by 4.6 %–5.1 %, and boosting power generation by 3.8 %–8.1 %. This solution not only enhances ecological benefits and reduces carbon emissions but also improves energy production. This study offers an integrated perspective on reservoir drawdown optimization, providing valuable insights for decision-makers to create effective operational strategies and fostering sustainable hydropower development.
Subjects
Cascade reservoirs
Drawdown operation
Multi-objective optimization
Water-carbon operation
Yangtze river
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Type
journal article