Dam and Hydropower

Image picture ② Image picture ③

Japan Commission on Large Dams

http://www.jcold.or.jp

The Roles of Dams and Hydropower

How Dams and Hydropower Prevent Global Warming.

Image picture ④ Image picture ⑤

Sources :
1) : “Circumstances of dams in Japan (effective use of existing dams) 2006 (in Japanese)”, Japan Commission on Large Dams
2) : Prepared based on the data of Japan Commission on Large Dams
3) : Prepared based on “ Dam Almanac 2005 (in Japanese) ”, The Japan Dam Foundation 2005. 3
4) : Webpage of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport (http://www.mlit.go.jp/river/dam/main/shinngikai/kondankai/dam/pdf2/17-27.pdf) (in Japanese)
5) : Prepared based on “Electric Utility Manual (fiscal 2008) (in Japanese) ”, the Federation of Electric Power Companies in Japan (in Japanese)
6) : Water Resources in Japan (fiscal 2008), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport p. 76(in Japanese)
7) : Water Resources in Japan (fiscal 2008), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport p. 90(in Japanese)
8) : Prepared based on references 6) and 7) (in Japanese)
9) : Webpage of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport’s Science and Technology (http://jcsepa.mri-jma.go.jp/outreach/20070324/Presentations/P2_Yamamoto.pdf)
(in Japanese)
10) : Webpage of the Chuo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. (http://www.chuomitsui,jp/invest/pdf/repo0503_4.pdf#search=’ Industrial water and industrial production index)
(in Japanese)
11) : “Earth Dams in Sanuki (in Japanese)”, the prefectural government of Kagawa (March, 2000) (in Japanese)
12) : Prepared based on the webpage of the University of Tokyo (http://park.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/irrigationwater/nakashima_071029.pdf) (in Japanese)
13) : Webpage of Oki/Kanae Laboratory of the Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo (http://hydro.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/Open House) (in Japanese)
14) : Problems of sand flushing at sedimentation facilities (in Japanese), Electric Power Engineering No. 318, p. 3
15) : Webpage of the Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc. (http://kepco.co/jp/info/hokuriku/contents/dashi/sougou.htm) (in Japanese)
16) : Webpage of Hatsutabara Dam (http://www. cgr.mlit.go.up/hattabara/damsite/facility/keep/keep.htm) (in Japanese)
17) : Webpage of the Japan Water Agency (http://www/water/go/jp/honsya/honsya/) (in Japanese)
18) : Webpage of Shikoku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
(Http://www/skr/mlit.go.jp/kansen/kanri/dam/hozen/html) (in Japanese)
19) : Provided by the Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc .(in Japanese)
20) : Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (in Japanese)
21) : Source: The first meeting of the review committee on inadequacy related to water rights for hydropower (in Japanese), River Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastruc-
ture, and Transport (September, 2007) (in Japanese)
22) and 23) : Webpage of the Center for Climate System Research of the University of Tokyo (http://ccsr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/openhouse/2005poster/20050H-K-1/2-
-5-H-K-1.htm) (in Japanese)
24) : Webpage of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (http://www/erca/go.jp/ondanka/stop/kikou.html) (in Japanese)
25) : Water Resources in Japan (fiscal 2005), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (in Japanese)
26) : Prepared based on ”TEPCO ILLUSTRATED FY2000” (in Japanese)
27) : Prepared based on Reservoir Sediment Control in Japan (in Japanese) by Tetsuya Sumi, pp. 108, Fig. 8, 2003
28) : “Evaluation of Power Generation Technologies based on Life Cycle CO2 Emissions”, the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (in Japanese)
29) : Survey by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (March 31, 2007) (in Japanese)
30) : Prepared based on IEA databases WEC (2004) for hydropower potential (in English)
Image picture ① : Provided by Toden PR Company, Inc . (in Japanese)
Image picture ② : Webpage of Onyado Kawasemi (http://hisuinosato.com) (in Japanese) Japan Commission on Large Dams
Image picture ③ : Webpage of Kurobe Dam (http://iwww.kurobe-dam .com/photo_museum/index.html) (in Japanese)
Image picture ④ : Webpage of the prefectural government of Akita (http:www.pref.akita.lg.jp) (in Japanese)
Image picture ⑤ : Webpage of Onyado Kawasemi (http://hisuinosato.com) (in Japanese)
Image picture ①
 Roles of Dams and Hydropower Today and in the Past Served as Foundations of Economic Growth and National Land Conservation in Japan
*Since the years of the latest data available differ by reference, the values are cited here.

History of Dam Construction Flood Control Power Supply

Dams have prevented flood damages Hydropower was first introduced in the Meiji era to
In Japan, because of the steep topography, the nation’ s and land slides in their lower regions Discharge (㎥/s) Mitigated damage : 100 million yen produce power at spinning mills and mines as independent
rivers are also very steep. So that the precipitation by temporarily storing flood water power sources. Since then, hydropower has enabled and
immediately runs off land into the rivers, and which causes and discharging it in a controlled way. increased energy to be produced domestically and
floods in a short time as well as rapid water recession. supported its economic growth.
Therefore, dams store the flood water and this role is
［Percentage of output from each power resource］

Number of dams constructed and flood control capacity 3）

inherently effective in mitigating flood damage and utilizing Number of dams Flood control capacity
the water in the season with little rain. Year of constructed (million ㎥ )
construction Single- Multi- Single- Multi-

Dams have been constructed for mainly water use such as

purpose purpose Total purpose purpose Total

Maximum output (MW)

dams dams dams dams

hydropower since the Meiji era, and after WWII

1926∼1945 0 2 2 0 10 10
Others
1946∼1955 0 17 17 0 240 240
multipurpose dams for flood control and water use have 1956∼1965 2 50 52 1 770 771
Nuclear power
Thermal power

been developed. 1966∼1975 21 62 83 54 860 914

Hydropower

Dams for supplying city and industrial water

Dams for supplying irrigation water

1976∼1985 26 76 102 67 849 916
Dams for flood control 1986∼1995 13 80 93 34 709 743 Discharge after flood control
1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005
Flood control by dams Mitigated damage (100 million yen)
Rivers in Japan Multi-purpose dams excluding hydropower by dams Fiscal year
1996∼2004 14 84 98 21 747 768
Number of dams

Multi-purpose dams including hydropower

Actual flood control by dams and estimated reduction amount of mitigated damage 4） Transition in output from each power resource in Japan 5）
Dams for hydropower
Total 76 371 447 177 4,185 4,362
As of fiscal 2005, there are 1,162 hydropower plants in Japan, owned by the
As of fiscal 2001, there have been 93 dams constructed by the Ministry nine electric power companies such as TEPCO and J Power. The hydropower
As of fiscal 2004, there are 447 dams in Japan for of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Japan Water Agency in plants which supply 34.27 million kW (17% of the total capacity), play an
flood control (excluding dams for agricultural Japan. These dams have controlled a total flood discharge of about 340 important part in securing reliable power supply, cooperating with other
land disaster prevention), which have a total thousand m3/s in 15 years from 1987 to 2001 and it is estimated that power sources such as nuclear power plants (46.96 million kW, 23%) and
1910 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 2000 07
flood storage capacity of about 4.4 billion ㎥. the effective reduction amount totaled about 4.2 trillion yen. thermal power plants (120.56 million kW, 60%).
Years The power generated by the hydropower plants, nuclear power plants, and
thermal power plants account for 60.0 billion kWh (7%), 287.0 billion kWh
Gradients of major rivers in Japan and the world 1） Changes in the number of dams according to purpose 2） (35%) and 462.2 billion kWh (57%), respectively.

Supply of Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural Water 〔Improvement of Living Conditions 〕 【Contribution to Agricultural Water】
The domestic water consumption per capita was 169 ℓ/person/day in According to 2000 data, 98% of agricultural water was taken from rivers and ponds.
Dams have supplied water of high quality and assisted immensely in improving people’
s living conditions and have fiscal 1965 and 316 ℓ/person/day in fiscal 2003, showing a twofold
respectively increased industrial and agricultural productions. increase, in the background of spread of water service and flush National
statistic
89.1 8.9
2.0
toilets. 0％ 20％ 40％ 60％ 80％ 100％
【Contribution to Domestic and Industrial Water】
316
（Hundred million ㎥/year） ℓ/person/day（ℓ/person/day）
834 Rivers Ponds Underground water
Hundred million ㎥ Hundred million ㎥ /year Domestic water consumption
Hundred million ㎥
For tap water
160 Mean daily consumption per capita Sources of agricultural water 11）

Mean daily consumption per capita

141 144143
For industrial water 135

Domestic water consumption

Due to the supply of agricultural
142
Sum
549 118.4
118
Hundred million ㎥
Hundred million ㎥
120
102 water, the irrigation ratio in Japan is

Irrigation ratio (%)

the highest among rice cultivating
Water yield

169 88
ℓ/person/day
８０ 69 nations in Asia.
126
Hundred million ㎥
On the other hand, Japan takes in a
40
Hundred million ㎥ 4０
42 large quantity of water via food
59.2 imports. The amount exceeds the

Japan

China

India

Indonesia

Korea

Thailand

Vietnam
Hundred million ㎥
159
Hundred million ㎥
20
Hundred million ㎥
annual quantity of water used for
Domestic water Industrial water Agricultural water Municipal water Total amount of water consumption (year) （year） irrigation in Japan in a year. Secured Irrigation ratio in Asian nations 12）
Notes: 1. The values are the amounts of water intake estimated by the Water Resources Department of the Ministry of
Land, Infrastructure and Transport and include the water that was returned to rivers after it was used.
(year)
Changes in domestic water consumption in Japan 9） supply of agricultural water by
Notes: 1. Survey by the Water Resources Department of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
2. Industrial water is the amount of fresh water supplied to establishments that had at least four employees. Water 2. The water yield (hundred million m3/year) was calculated by converting the water yield (m3/s) into dams, etc. is important also from the
used for public utilities is not included.
3. The estimated amount of agricultural water for 1980 is used for years 1981 and 1982, the estimated amount for
its annual value and multiplying by a load factor (day mean supply / day maximum supply) of 5/6.
〔Increases in Industrial Production〕 perspective of water security.
1983 is used for years 1984 to 1988, and the estimated amount for 1989 is used for years 1990 to 1993.
4. The sum may not agree with the actual total due to rounding. Water yield for municipal use by water resource The industrial production index was about 25% in fiscal 1965 and
Water consumption in Japan 6） development facirlities (the dams, etc.)7） about 90% in fiscal 2001, marking an over threefold increase, with Total assumed amount of imported water to Japan 13）
As of fiscal 2005, the total annual consumption of water in Japan (an estimate The total water yield associated with dam construction by the end the increase of industrial water consumption.
based on intake) accounts for 83.4 billion ㎥, of which 15.9 billion ㎥ (19%) is of fiscal 2005 was 11.84 billion ㎥ for domestic water and 5.92 Hundred million ㎥ Assumed water input in
Others：33 imported articles
domestic water, 12.6 billion ㎥ (15%) is industrial water (to supply to water billion ㎥ for industrial water. About
Industrial water consumption

(hundred million ㎥/year)

90% 14

Industrial production index

recycling systems), and 54.9 billion ㎥ (66%) is agricultural water. 49 22 13
25
36 145

1975 (11.4 billion ㎥) 2005 (15.9 billion ㎥) 1975 (16.6 billion ㎥) 2005 (12.6 billion ㎥) 22 Pork Maize

About 13 389
25% Beef
Others
(rivers, underground
Dams As of fiscal 2005, water supply produced by 3
140
Soy bean
water resource development facilities (the
Dams
Others
water, etc.)
26% Others
(rivers, underground
Dams
89 25 121
(rivers, underground
water, etc.) Dams
Others
(rivers, underground
water, etc.)
53% dams, etc.) accounted for 74% of domestic 3 20 Wheat
usage and 47% of industrial usage.
62% water, etc.) 24
74%
Rice
94

Recycled industrial water

(scale on the left)
Supply of fresh water
(scale on the left)
Industrial production index
(scale on the right)
Total import：640 billion ㎥/year Annual water consumption
： billion ㎥/year
570
Source :“Industrial Statistics Table”and“Industrial Production Index”of the Ministry of for irrigation in Japan
（Domestic water） （Industrial water） Economy, Trade and Industry
(Unit yield in Japan: calculated using the data in the food balance table of fiscal 2000)
Changes in the contribution ratio of water resource development facilities (the dams, etc.) in industrial water (supplying to water recycling systems)and domestic water 8） Changes in industrial water consumption and industrial production index 10）

−１− −２−
 To sustain the Roles of Dams and Hydropower, constant efforts have been made to mitigate resulting negative environmental impacts
The state of reservoirs involves following environmental issues. To keep fulfilling their roles in dams and hydropower, these issues should be tackled steadily.

Sedimentation Prolonged Turbid Water

Storing water in a reservoir allows for the capture of sedimentation from the upper regions. Sedimentation reduces the Inflow of sedimentation during floods with prolonged suspended solids causes turbid water. Discharge of the turbid
amount of water that can be stored in the reservoir capacity (designed dead storage) and may affect coast formation water may affect the quality of water in the lower regions.
around the estuarial regions.
Values within brackets denote the numbers of dams.
《Example of Improvement》
1991∼1993 （29） 3.6
1981∼1990（135） 12.0
①Forestation of Sediment Sources in the Upper ②Bypass tunnel to restrict the inflow of sediments (and supply
Sedimentations
1971∼1980（169） 23.7
deposits in some Regions sediments to the lower regions to prevent the riverbed from
Year of completion

degrading and the coastline from recessing)

1961∼1970（158） 56.2
1951∼1960（152） 101.6 dams in Japan are in
1941∼1950 （27） 58.3 the process of being Bypassing the turbid water
1931∼1940 （35） 103.4 exceeded their and sediments during floods
∼1930 165.0 design values. Intake
During flood
Bypass tunnel to prevent
reservoir sedimentation
National total（729） 59.4 Prolonged turbid water Weir

0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0 140.0 160.0 180.0 200.0
Sedimentation ratio (%)
〔Definition of Sedimentation ratio〕 Sedimentation Mitigating prolonged turbid
Sedimentation conditions 14） (Sedimentation amount ／ The designed dead storage)×100(%) Asahi Dam water and sedimentation

《Example of Improvement》
Outlet
Riverbed degradation in
the lower regions
Supplying sediments
Coordinated sediment flushing to Drawing down the water level
Dashidaira Dam
Water level during storage
to the lower regions

restore the effective capacity and river’

s
Drawing down
Unazuki Dam the water level Sameura Dam across
environment in the lower regions
Water level during storage
＜Drawing down the water level＞ Yoshinogawa River 18） Prior to bypass operations Subsequent to bypass operations
Drawing down
the water level The water level is lowered in the both dams.
The Dashidaira Dam and the Unazuki Dam, Kurobe River ③Selected intake gate to prevent discharge of Rocks were exposed
which is about 7 km downstream across the turbid water
Kurobe River, flush and discharge sediments in Flushing and Discharging Sediment Dashidaira Dam ＜Flushing and Discharging Sediment＞ Intake of Surface Water Selective Intake Intake of Lower Water
a mutually coordinated manner. The sediment Sediment flushing
Flushing and Discharging The river is allowed to flow naturally through
that flowed and was deposited into the Unazuki Dam
Sediment the water level
both the dams to discharge sediment from the
Dashidaria Dam during the floods is Sediment flushing Dashidaira Dam to the lower regions through
discharged into the lower regions through the the Unazuki Dam.
Unazuki Dam. This coordinated sediment Kurobe River

flushing is implemented by following the Dashidaira Dam

methods and the rules that were formulated
with the purpose of mitigating impacts on the
environment in the lower regions. An
investigation to evaluate the effects has been
ongoing.
Measures after Sediment Flushing and Discharge
Recovery of water level
＜Measures after Sediment Flushing and Discharge＞
Unazuki Dam Water level during storage Discharge
The sand flush gates of the dams are closed to Changes in the riverbed at the downstream of the bypass tunnel of Asahi Dam 19）
Discharge
Recovery of water level recover the water level. Water from the upper
regions is discharged for a predetermined
Kurobe River period of time.
Hitotsuse Dam across Hitotsusegawa River,
Matsubara Dam across Chikugogawa River, etc. 20）
Mechanism of coordinated sediment flushing and discharge 15）

River Environment in the Lower Regions

Eutrophication Hydropower sometimes take in river water in its entirely, which adversely affects the habitats of organisms, water
Reservoir becomes eutrophic via the inflow of domestic sewage, etc. which may affect the quality of drinking water, etc. quality scenery, etc. in the lower regions.

《Example of Improvement》 《An Improvement Example》

①Purifying Water by Using an Aerating Circulation ②Stopping Expansion of Water bloom by Installing ①Appropriate flow at the downstream of the dam to be secured; stated in the ②Revising the Term of
Facility a Cutoff Barrier Hydropower Guideline ＊ 21） Validity of Water Rights
Schematic Diagram of“Restoring the
Clear Stream”based on the Guideline
Total length of affected river sections: about 9,700 km On April 1, 2009, the term of validity
Sections outside the scope
of the water rights for power generation
Regulating tank
of the Guideline
Not Restored was revised from 30 years to 20 years
(10 years for those that have passed 100
Sections within the scope
of the Guideline
Not Restored

Total length of clear stream years since the initial permission was
Power station
Intake weir restoration: about 6,500 km granted) in principle. It is also required
Sections within the scope to submit necessary reports every 10
Section of reduced water of the Guideline Restored
years to evaluate the utilization of river
Sections outside the scope
of the Guideline Restored water which will be revised for every
fixed period of time from the
67% of the affected sections perspective of public benefits, such as
Regulating tank
have been restored conservation of the river’ s surrounding
Restoration of clear streams in affected sections environment.
Power station Intake weir
Number of power stations : 699 (52%) out of 1,295
Length of affected sections : about 6,500 km (67%)
Restoration of clear stream out of about 9,700 km
Reduced power generation
Hattabara Dam across Ashidagawa River 16） Seirenji Dam across Seirenjigawa River 17）
“Guideline for maintaining the flow of the river at renewing the water rights for power generation”enacted by the Ministry
＊
of Construction in 1988
−3− −4−
Global Warming Increases the Importance of Proposals toward the Future
Securing Reservoir Capacities and Hydropower Development of New Dams
Global warming is predicted to increase droughts and floods. In Necessity of
Predicted Impacts of Global Warming Japan the total reservoir capacity is diminished at a mean ratio
of 0.24% a year. To maintain the present reservoir capacity
an increase
Total reservoir Without new dam

Capacity (100 million ㎥ )

level, new dams need to be developed while taking measures capacity development
According to a future climate forecast made by the collaborate study team for the Center for Climate System Research (CCSR), Total quantity of
University of Tokyo and National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology against sedimentation of existing reservoirs, such as sand sedimentation
(JAMSTEC), using a global simulator based on the climatic data in the past 100 years, the number of heavy rain days and hot summer flushing described as an improvement example
days on which the temperature is 30℃ or above will increase and snow depth will decrease in Japan. Based on the forecast, future
river flows at dam sites were estimated and compared with present values. As the result of the estimations, the number of heavy rain Roles of Hydropower Sedimentation
ratio : 0.24%/year
Necessity of
days will increase but the flow of the rivers will drop in general, and the peak of snowmelt discharge will appear in earlier spring than a decrease
today, the flow during the wintertime will increase while the flow during the summertime will drop (From reference 22)∼25)). For The CO2 emissions from hydropower are emitted only for
effective utilization of rainfall and snow all year round, the results show the increasing importance of securing reservoir capacities. construction and facility repair. Hydropower dose not emit CO2 to
during operations.
The number of hot summer days (maximum The number of heavy rain days (daily Approximately 70 million tons of CO2 was reduced via the use of
temperature of 30℃ or above) precipitation of at least 100 mm)
hydropower in fiscal 2006. Without power supply from
The number of The number of hydropower, the CO2 emissions in Japan would have been about Year
hot summer days heavy rain days 6% more compared to the level in fiscal 1990.＊ Reservoir capacity of dams in Japan and losses in capacity 27）

will increase! will increase!

To prevent global warming the Japanese Government sets an aim
to cut CO2 emission by 25% by 2020 respect to1990 levels.
Hydropower is viewed as a clean and renewable energy that emits Development of New Hydropower
zero CO2 and is an effective resource.
For preventing global warming, hydropower is as important as
solar and wind. The development of new hydropower with newly
being developed dams is also effective.

23）
22）

Less than 1,000

(unit : kW)

The peak will Fuel combustion

Snow depth appear early! Present
will drop! The amount of snow
In 100 years
Equipment・Operation
will decrease in all
Discharge (㎥/s)

parts of Japan.
Flow in winter Flow in
Present
time will summertime
increase! will drop!
Pending development

Hydropower
In Japan, there are potentials

(petroleum)

LNG (steam)

LNG (CC)

Wind

Geothermal
Solar

Nuclear
Thermal
Developed
for developing small scale

(coal)
Thermal
Under construction
hydropower plants.

In 100 years CO2 emissions per 1 kWh 28） Hydropower output distribution (number of points) 29）
January 1

February 1

March 1

April 1

May 1

June 1

July 1

August 1

September 1

October 1

November 1

December 1

Snow depth (cm) ＊Interim Report of Hydropower Study Group (July 2007), Agency for Natural
Resources and Energy

Flow at Yagisawa Dam 25）

Closing Remarks
24）

Goals for Preventing Global Warming In developing countries, the spread of electricity is Developing countries have
indispensable for their growth. Power development large hydropower potentials.
Based on the G8 Summit in 2008 (held in Toyako, Hokkaido), projects are requested to take into consideration
Japan set a goal to increase the production of zero emission global warming and other environmental issues. In
energy (renewable energy, nuclear power generation, etc.) so Nuclear power Japan, not only given that present ongoing measures
as account for 50% of the total power generation by 2020. ％ but also Kyoto Mechanism, which are supplementary
％ ％ LNG and LPG
Today, as of fiscal 2007, the ten electric power companies in ％ measures, have been implemented to achieve the goals
Japan produce a total of 1030.3 billion kWh, of which 353.0 Coal
of the Kyoto Protocol. CDM(Clean Development
billion kWh (35%) are zero emission power. Of this, 78.4 Petroleum Mechanism) projects utilizing hydropower via
billion kWh (8%) is produced from hydropower, all the more Other gas Japan’ s advanced and abundant hydropower
％
revealing its importance. ％ technologies will be required to contribute to build a
New energy
global sustainable society. (*Emissions from methane
Hydropower
and other greenhouse gases should be taken into Development ratio
Out of the hydropower potential that is
feasibly necessary for global economic
account in certain tropical regions.) (Advanced nations): about 70%(economical potential)
development, only 31% has been
(Other countries): about 20%
developed by 2004.
Energy sources of power production by the ten electoric
power companies in Japan (fiscal 2007) 26） Hydropower potential feasible for economic development in the world 30）
−5− −6−