Sub-daily flow alterations (hydropeaking) due to reservoir operations in Brazil

Abstract

International studies have focused on the hydrological impacts on an hourly or sub-daily scale that hydroelectric plants can cause through hydropeaking operations. However, this topic is still underexplored in Brazil, despite its large number of hydroelectric plants. Thus, to bring it to the Brazilian context, this study initially presents a literature review to characterize hydropeaking, its impacts and proposed mitigating measures, and research conducted in Brazil. Next, it was demonstrated that hydropeaking operations occur throughout the entire national territory, in hydroelectric plants of different sizes, that can cause changes increasing up to 450% of the base flow. Conflicts related to hydropeaking in Brazil are also brought up and, despite their occurrences and records of specific thresholds for their mitigation, this has not been addressed in environmental impact studies for licensing Small Hydropower Plants (SHPs) or legislation. Thus, the present study seeks to bring to light the importance of further research on hydropeaking in Brazil.