EVALUATION OF SMALL SCALE HYDROPOWER WITH DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT APPROACH AT UPSTREAM OF GIDABO RIVER FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION

Abstract

Hydropower is considered as one of the most desirable source of electrical energy due to its environmental friendly and extensive potential available throughout the world. The main objective of this study has to evaluate the small scale hydropower potential for rural electrification of Gidabo river, estimation of discharge to power generation for each selected sites, study energy demand for rural community and finally to prioritize and rank the best suitable site based on multi criteria decision analysis. The materials such as, RET Screen model with the objective to make complete pre-feasibility studies, GPS also used to estimate elevations at different points and ArcGIS was used to delineate watersheds and to determine heads by developing contours. The study method, conducted by reviewed different literatures related with power potential assessment and the collection of hydrological and meteorological data after collected those data, then analyzing data’s by using different software models, after analyzed the data making prefeasibility study for site selection, and transferred flow data for ungauged sites by using area ratio method then calculated power produce potential for each sites then develop flow and power duration curves to select design flows and ranked potential sites based on multi criteria decision analysis to select best suitable sites ,finally energy demand forecasted by using end use method. There was six (6) potential study sites had been selected by using Geographical Positioning System (GPS) of field surveying along the river and represented each site by code with respect to the discharge, power, head, nearest town and road accessibility. Analytical hierarchy process was chosen in combination with GIS as a method of multi criteria decision making to prioritize and select best hydropower site. ArcGIS, MCDA, GPS and Google earth were used for visualization, data analysis and interpretation. Based on multi criteria decision analysis of suitability index value (SI)the site code A@D$ become first choice and site code A@C$ become the last . The total annually energy potential of the selected site code A@D$ was estimated about 33146.0 MWh, 24076.16MWh and 5263.18 MWh for 30 %, 50 % and 90 % of time exceedance respectively. All six potential sites in the study area are classified as small scales hydropower based on installed capacity and also medium based on head. Finally, the forecasted of energy demand for community and load analysis was performed by using end-use method, for this study consider residential, Community and commercial load analysis to energy demand forecasting and evaluation. Generally, this research will give a piece of information about the study area for those concerned body for future work also additional works and for the implementation of SHP Plants