Cloud Seeding Technology: A potential solution to the low water level of the Akosombo Dam
Global Examples of Cloud Seeding Technology Applications
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The application of Cloud Seeding Technology (CST) is increasing world wide as a water resource management strategy to minimise drought effects of climate change. Nearly 50 countries have been engaged in CST projects and programmes. These include China, United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, Russia, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Honduras, Arabian States, UAE and others.
China is the world leader in CST applications. It spends about US$100 million annually on CST programmes. Across the country, 2,235 counties out of 2,900 conduct cloud seeding projects. As a result, it is estimated that 490 billion tons of water were released during the past decade alone. In 2012, the Chinese government budgeted 160 million yuan to subsidise local government weather modification projects. These projects were designed to increase annual cumulative precipitation by between three and five per cent or up to 280 billion tons annually in the next five years. In China, the cost-benefit ratio of CST projects is estimated at about 29:1. i.e ERR of 2.900 per cent .
CST projects
In the United States, the application of CST started as early as in the 1950s. Government agencies and utilities from California to North Dakota have spent an estimated US$15 million a year on cloud seeding projects and the number of projects have increased by nearly 30 per cent in the last decade. In California and other states, all precipitation enhancement projects are intended to increase water supply or HEP generation.
In a recent report, the California Department of Water Resources estimated that annually, cloud seeding projects generate an additional 400,00- cubic feet of water supply in the state of California alone.
In Texas, cloud seeding projects are being implemented to increase rainfall from convective cloud towers covering an area of 31 million acres (or almost 20 per cent of the State’s land area).
Notable example
A notable example of successful CST application in HEP generation is the case of Hydro Tasmania in Tasmania, Australia. It has 29 hydropower stations and more than 50 large dams. Its total generating capacity is 2568 MW, with assets valued at more than US$2.0 billion. This huge project has depended on induced rainfall from the annual cloud seeding programme to optimally generate electric power for the past several years. Its annual cloud seeding exercise run for six months, from May to October under the auspices of Monash University with support from scientists at Hydro Tasmania, Snowy Hydro, the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (VIC). Incidentally, the Hydro Tasmania has begun its 2014 clouding seeding season this month, May 2014.
In Africa, Burkina Faso is a shining example as far as CST application is concerned. Beginning in 1998, she has successfully implemented CST projects to ensure availability of adequate water to sustain irrigation-based agriculture production in both wet and dry seasons. According to government sources, Burkina Faso has increased its cash earnings from agriculture by 10-15 per cent since it began the cloud seeding programme (CSP). As a result of this success, in 2005, the governments of the nine Sahelian countries, including Burkina Faso, decided to implement sub-regional five-year CSPs costing US$60 million, to be funded by international donors.
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Conclusion
The International Water Management Institute’s (IWMI) forecast that by 2050 and 2100 there would only be enough water for hydroelectric facilities to perform respectively at about 50 per cent and 25 per cent of capacity. This is a clarion call for Ghana Government to take immediate action to implement water resource management strategies to sustain adequate water in the Volta Basin to guarantee continuous supply of cheap electricity from the country’s HEP system.
We believe that the application of a well-designed CST in Ghana is a credible option and an inexpensive approach to effectively help address this looming problem. Ghana has great opportunity to benefit from accumulated knowledge, expertise and experiences in global CST applications from successful pioneers in this area.