Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Tropical Andes mountains

Energy

As we have seen, climate change will have a significant impact on water flow, thus affecting hydropower generation, which generates the majority of power in the region. In South America as a whole, hydropower generates about 65 per

cent of electricity (WWDR, 2014). The majority of hydropower facilities are located in the mountains. In the region, Peru is the country most reliant on glacial water also for its hydropower generation. Southern Peru and Bolivia also rely significantly on

hydropower and are, in addition to melting glaciers, expected to experience a decrease in precipitation. North-western Peru, Ecuador and Colombia are expected to see an increase in precipitation, which could increase their hydropower generation capacity. For eastern Colombia and Venezuela, on the contrary, reduced precipitation could cause reduced capacity. Drastically changing glaciers, páramos and other ecosystems must also be accounted for in the development of hydropower policies in the futures. This is also true for the increasing proportional demand from other sectors of the economy including the rapidly rising population. Mountains also present alternatives for other renewable energy sources. A rapidly rising population and per capita energy use mean that the region will require substantial additional energy production in the future. Adapting to climate change also involves adapting to climate change mitigation, which is increasingly relevant for Andean states. The topography of the Andes can create areas of intense winds suitable for turbines, yet this resource is largely untapped. Another important energy source is firewood, which is an ecosystem service provided by sustainable mountain forest management. Solar power is another resource with significant potential in the Andes due to high radiation at high altitudes (Kawajiri et al., 2011). This source of power has the potential to provide electricity for larger urban areas. It can also be particularly suitable for remote rural communities in the high mountains. Increasing or diversifying electricity production could also increase the adaptive capacity of rural communities.

Solar panel on rural house, Peru

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