Study of the climatic vulnerability of the hydroelectric sector

The Challenge

Ivory Coast has been identified by the World Bank (2018) as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The study has aimed at looking more in details to the Bandama and Sassandra catchments that cover most of the country, and most of the hydroelectricity production in the country, to assess the risks associated to flood safety and energy production for the short-term (a few days’ horizon) and the long-term (including climate change).

The Solution

Collection, downscaling and detailed analysis of historical and climate change projections over the catchments of 6 assets in the Bandama and Sassandra catchments.
Real-time hydrological and system modelling for flood forecasting.
Climate change vulnerability and resilience analyses for energy production and flood safety. Consideration of 2 climate change scenarios and 2 future horizons.
Delivering of an integrated tool and training of operational teams in Ivory Coast for conducting both the short-term and long-term studies.

The Impact

Information of the vulnerabilities of the different assets depending on the future horizon that is considered, the hydraulic asset and the socio-economic development scenario.
Presentation of adaptation pathways to be able to take robust decision in the future no matter what will happen and considering the deep uncertainty behind climate change projections.