Assessment of Small-Scale Hydropower Potential Site Using a GIS Tool A Case Study of the Dura Watershed in Abay Basin, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The energy crisis has emerged as a serious issue in developing countries. Identifying and utilizing of anew renewable energy resources is crucial to reducing the country's energy shortage and fuel dependency. The general objective of this study is to assess the suitable small scale hydropower potential site in the Dura river catchment located in the Amhara region, Awi zone. Data used in this study include digital elevation model DEM (12.5 m × 12.5 m), stream flow, point rainfall data and head at different sites were measured using geographical position system(GPS) and Google earth pro for this research. To select potential hydropower sites, extraction and selection of feasible stream reach along the river flow path profile is done within a 500-meter maximum stream length. These were the main criteria for identifying feasible stream reach and selecting each hydropower site. On the right side of the basin, it has the potential to generate better small scale hydro power. Eleven potential sites were identified and select in the study area. From all potential sites, site D6 and site D11 have maximum and minimum potential capacity; 5566.939 KW and 140.384 KW, respectively. The maximum installed capacity from 30% FDC flow values and the minimum flow exceedance from 95% FDC flow values for all sites were estimated as 30764.459 KW and 427.732 KW, respectively. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was chosen in a combination of geographic information system (GIS) as the method of multi-criteria decision method on selecting hydropower sites. Power, Discharge, Head, Accessibility and Distance were considered as criteria in this study, and according to the suitability analysis result, site D10 & D6 were selected as 1st & 2 nd ranks for best suitable sites, respectively. Site D11 is considered as low suitable from all sites. This study will aid decision-makers in the energy sector in optimizing the available resources in selecting suitable sites for small hydropower plants with high power potential. Among them, ten sites are small; one site is a mini scale. The significance of the study, on the other hand, is that the energy demand of rural residents is increasing