Engineering Geological Studies of Small/Mini/Micro Hydropower Sites: A Case Study in Anger and Guder Sub-basins

Gezahegn, Ashenafi (2007) Engineering Geological Studies of Small/Mini/Micro Hydropower Sites: A Case Study in Anger and Guder Sub-basins. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Ethiopia is endowed with huge amount of renewable energy resources such as small-hydro that is identified to be suitable for rural electrification. This study takes the case of potential small hydropower assessment in Anger and Guder sub-basins of Abbay Basin. The study indicates that there are many small hydropower potential sites in the study area. Various researchers identified potential small hydropower sites in the different regions of the country. Unfortunately, random selection of sites as considered by other researchers may end up identifying a site which will not give reliable amount of discharge for power generation through out the year. In this study, a new attempt is tried to produce initial site identification criteria by considering various parameters which will affect the power out put of a site. The initial identification criteria set up specifically suitable for the study area is found to be a minimum of 110 km2 catchment area and 80 m head. A total of 18 potential sites are identified in the present study by considering this criterion with a total power potential of 19564 kw. In addition an attempt is also made to develop regionalized flow-duration curves for prediction of discharge at ungauged streams. To do this, methods have been involved in developing a set of parametric flowduration curves based on flow values at gauged points. This data set includes the correlation of drainage area versus average annual run off for all gauges in the region and values of Q for a particular exceedance values. This method allows prediction of only certain exceedance values of discharge for potential sites. For the present study, engineering geological mapping was carried out along the different components of the sites in the context of high lightening possible problems that could be caused from the earth materials present around each ground verified SHP sites. In an effort to incorporate these factors, the strength and weathering characteristics of rocks, swelling potential of soils and the stability conditions of rock and soil slopes exposed along the different components of the SHP schemes were evaluated by utilizing various empirical and index properties of soils. Therefore, further research is recommended for the assessment small hydropower sites which consider a combination of more elaborate hydrologic and geotechnical aspects.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology
T Technology > T Technology (General)
T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Selom Ghislain
Date Deposited: 24 Aug 2018 12:21
Last Modified: 24 Aug 2018 12:21
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4884

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