OPTIMIZING ENERGY GENERATION: CAPACITY ANALYSIS FOR HYDROPOWER

Abstract

Hydropower plants play a vital role in the renewable energy sector, particularly in Asian countries like China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nepal. These plants are categorized based on factors such as plant capacity, water utilization method, and diversion structure height. Capacities vary from pico hydro-power plants (< 5kW) to large hydropower plants (>100MW). Additionally, hydropower plants can be classified as run-of-river, storage, or pumped storage plants based on water resource utilization. Among the various hydropower schemes, the small hydropower plant (SHP) with a run-of-river (ROR) concept has gained significant attention. ROR plants do not require water storage and generate power in accordance with streamflow availability, which primarily relies on catchment area, characteristics, and rainfall distribution. Flow duration curves represent the available flow over time. SHPs with ROR concepts usually employ low diversion weirs, resulting in lower environmental impacts compared to large-scale storage hydropower schemes. Consequently, these systems are considered cost-effective and environmentally friendly options for rural electrification in both less developed and developed countries. This paper focuses on a high head run-of-river scheme with a gross head/net head of 262.5m/246.75m and a catchment area of 47.2 km2. The study aims to determine the optimum installed capacity, energy yield, and plant factor of the scheme, with the simulated installed capacity ranging from 4MW to 7.5MW. The design flow is established based on the intended installed capacity, providing essential insights for further discussion.