Smart and sustainable operation of dams on the Kurobe river

The upgrade of existing dams to enhance safety, sustainability, and smart use is taking place around the world. In Japan, multiple dams have been constructed in the Kurobe river system for hydropower generation and flood control. Currently, pioneering initiatives related to dam upgrades are being implemented on the Kurobe river. To ensure the sustainability of these dams, coordinated sediment flushing has been implemented at two dams managed by different operators. Efforts are also being made to improve operation by using long-term ensemble rainfall forecasts to achieve smart operation, thereby increasing hydro generation and improving flood management. This paper describes the efforts of coordinated sediment flushing by multiple dams and the advanced dam operation based on rainfall forecasts, which benefits both flood control and water utilization, as case examples of smart and sustainable operation of dams in the Kurobe river.