Multipurpose projects |


Integrated dams, sustainable futures


Global studies highlight how multipurpose reservoirs can reduce greenhouse gases, boost efficiency, and meet diverse community needs


THE EXPANSION OF LARGE-SCALE hydroelectric power projects in temperate regions has brought the need for greater understanding of GHG emission patterns and dynamics across varying climatic and ecological settings. These issues are described as being more


pronounced in South Korea, where hydropower supports national energy security, but empirical GHG datasets are sparse. As Min et al explain in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, the country still relies on IPCC Tier 1 wetland factors to inventory reservoir emissions, a practice they say overlooks domestic watershed characteristics and anthropogenic nutrient inputs. In recent years, efforts by UNESCO and the


Below: Yongdamho Lake and Yongdam Dam in South Korea


International Hydropower Association have led to greater accuracy with the development of the GHG Reservoir (G-res) Tool. Although recent G-res Tool


applications span China, Europe, North America and Vietnam, the authors claim multipurpose dam reservoirs in temperate East Asia remain underexamined. To address this, the authors used the G-res Tool


to assess GHG emissions and carbon footprints from seven multipurpose dam reservoirs located in temperate regions of South Korea, where empirical studies on reservoir-related emissions remain limited. The Korea Water Resources Corporation manages the construction and operation of 21 multipurpose dams across the region. This study focused on seven dams that were selected based on their high rankings of hydroelectric power generation capacity and reservoir surface area. These were: Soyang and Chungju in the Han River Basin. Andong, Imha, and Hapcheon in the Nakdong River Basin.


Daecheong and Yongdam in the Geum River Basin.


22 | November 2025 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


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