Hydropower

Engineering
Mohammed A.
Hydropower potential
• Hydropower’s theoretical potential includes the total potential
energy from all water resources within specified spatial boundaries
without any physical, technical and economic usage limitations.
• Hydropower’s technical potential is defined as the total energy that
can be generated under the technical, infrastructural and ecological
constraints. Usually, technical potential ranges from 20 to 35 percent
of theoretical potential.
• Technical potential is lower than theoretical potential because
technical restrictions limit, for example, using flood flows for
energy production, unless a reservoir with large storage capacity is
available, which is not always the case.
• Another factor that reduces available technical potential when
ecological restrictions are considered is providing a minimum flow
to preserve ecologically and socially motivated minimum water
conditions.
 Cont’d…
• This may reduce the stream flow that can be diverted from the
main river for energy production.
• Hydropower’s economic potential is defined as the energy
capacity that is economically exploitable relative to alternative
energy forms. Based on reports published by International Energy
Association (IEA), International Hydropower Association (IHA)
and World watch Institute.
Current global situation - Global energy generation and installed
capacity
• Hydropower generation has increased by 50 percent since 1990.
The highest absolute growth was observed in China.
 Cont’d…
• In 2008, hydropower was the most common renewable energy
with a production of 3,288 TWh worldwide, corresponding to
17.3 percent of global electricity production. In 2010, hydro
production increased to 3,427 TWh.
• Worldwide installed hydropower capacity reached 985 GW in
2012. In the same year, pump storage capacity was 130 GW.
Hence, in 2012 total installed hydropower capacity was 1115
GW.
• 27–30 GW of hydropower and 2–3 GW of pump storage were
commissioned in 2012; about half of new capacity was installed
in China.
• In 2010, hydropower was generated in 150 countries; 32
percent of global hydropower was generated in the Asia-Pacific
region. China is the leading hydropower producer, with 721
TWh in 2010.
 Ethiopian hydropower dev’t
• There are enormous resources for hydro generation; the gross
theoretical potential (650 TWh/yr) is second only to that of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Despite this, only about 3 per cent of the country’s hydropower
potential is being exploited. Currently, domestic demand is
insufficient to justify its full development.
• Neighboring countries of Kenya, Djibouti and Sudan are benefiting
from the electricity provided by hydropower development in
Ethiopia.
• Some of the hydroelectric projects include Tekeze (300 MW in
2009), Gibe II (420 MW in 2010), Tana Beles (460 MW in 2010)
and Amerti Nesha (97 MW in 2011).
• Additionally, three more projects (including Grand Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam are under construction. However, these dev’ts
are constrained by the inadequate power transmission system.
In service
Advantages and disadvantages of hydropower
The most important advantages of hydropower:
• Hydropower generation is based on a reliable proven technology
that can be easily rehabilitated or upgraded utilizing recent advances
in hydro technologies.
• Hydropower generation is renewable because it does not reduce the
water resources it uses and does not require fuel.
• In most cases, hydropower is an economically competitive
renewable source of energy. The levelized cost of electricity
(LCOE) is usually in the range of US$0.05 to US$0.10 per kWh.
• Hydropower exploits domestic water resources, thereby achieving
price stability by avoiding market fluctuations.
• Storage hydropower schemes (dams, pumped storage) offer
operational flexibility because they can be easily ramped up or shut
down, creating potential for immediate response to fluctuations in
electricity demand.
 CONT’D…
• The creation of reservoirs also allows water to be stored for
drinking or irrigation, reducing human vulnerability to droughts.
Reservoirs can provide flood protection, and can improve
waterway transport capacity.
• Environmental impacts triggered by implementing hydropower
schemes are well known and manageable.
Disadvantages of hydropower:
• High up-front investment costs compared to other technologies,
such as thermal power (but low operational costs since no fuel is
required).
• Reservoirs may have a negative impact on the inundated area,
damage river flora and fauna, or disrupt river uses such as
navigation. However, most negative impacts can be mitigated
through project design.