Along-the-net reconstruction of hydropower potential with consideration of anthropic alterations (original) (raw)

Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential

PLOS ONE, 2017

Population growth, increasing energy demand and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves necessitate a search for sustainable alternatives for electricity generation. Hydropower could replace a large part of the contribution of gas and oil to the present energy mix. However, previous high-resolution estimates of hydropower potential have been local, and have yet to be applied on a global scale. This study is the first to formally present a detailed evaluation of the hydropower potential of each location, based on slope and discharge of each river in the world. The gross theoretical hydropower potential is approximately 52 PWh/year divided over 11.8 million locations. This 52 PWh/year is equal to 33% of the annually required energy, while the present energy production by hydropower plants is just 3% of the annually required energy. The results of this study: all potentially interesting locations for hydroelectric power plants, are available online.

Hydropower potential and development activities

Energy Policy, 2002

Technically feasible hydropower potential estimated at nearly 15 000 TW h/yr still exists in the world today, mostly in countries where increased power supplies from clean and renewable sources are most urgently needed to progress social and economic development. While it is not realistic to assume that all of this potential will be developed in the short or even medium term, it is clear that hydro has a substantial role to play in world energy supply. It can also offer a number of environmental and technical advantages, in terms of avoided generation based on fossil fuels. This paper reviews the current role hydropower is playing in the world, along with some its inherent benefits, and then looks at the remaining potential, and some specific development plans in various regions of the world. Attention is drawn to the advantages of developing hydropower as part of a multipurpose water resources scheme, often enabling it to subsidize other valuable functions of a reservoir or river system.

Tool for Prospecting of Remaining Hydro-Energetic Potential

Anuário do Instituto de Geociências, 2018

In the context of renewable energy sources, small hydropower plants are a good cost-benefit alternative and they can be implemented in remote communities that have waterfalls. The objective of this study was to develop and apply a tool in a GIS environment capable of pointing out sites for the remaining hydro-energy utilization in three hydrographic basins based on altimetric data and regionalization of flow rates. The results were verified by comparing hydro-energetic potentials identified with previously inventoried sites. From the comparative analysis, it was possible to identify the remaining potentials efficiently and quickly, being the tool an important instrument to assist in the prospecting of hydro-energetic potential.

Unlocking the Development of Hydropower Potential

Hydro Nepal: Journal of Water, Energy and Environment, 2015

Nepal is rich in hydropower amounted to 42 GW. But it is poor in terms of per capita electricity consumption amounted to 106 KWh which keeps Nepal in a lowest position among the countries of South Asia. Harnessing this is a must for Nepal to run to the road to prosperity. Electricity use and economic growth move in the same direction indicating an additional unit of growth requires additional multiple unit of electricity. There are a number of stakeholders of the rivers flowing inside Nepal. These rivers are being shared by four sovereign countries-originated in Tibet, enter Nepal and cross the border to flow in India and then in Bangladesh before reaching their final destiny. These rivers provide drinking water to the people of these countries. In addition, another option for the benefit to share of these rivers among the stakeholders is to develop hydropower in Nepal and export it to light the cities of the rest of countries. Nepal should prepare itself to make favorable environment-creating domestic market, reducing electricity generation cost, maintaining rule of law, creating stable policies, ending political instability, adopting appropriate pricing policies-to invite foreign direct investment needed to harness.

Exploring Hydropower In The Realm of Renewable Energies

Energy Management & Policy, 2023

The global energy landscape is currently undergoing a rapid transition, with renewable energy sources gaining significant prominence. Among these, hydropower stands out as one of the most widely utilized and reliable sources of renewable energy on a global scale. Over the decades, hydropower has played a pivotal role in meeting the energy demands of economies around the world. Its appeal as an energy source is bolstered by its capacity to generate electricity sustainably with low greenhouse gas emissions. However, hydropower is not without its controversies, primarily stemming from the negative externalities associated with its development. This controversy arises from the essential need to strike a delicate balance between the apparent benefits of hydropower, including clean energy production and reliability, and the potential environmental and social costs it may incur.

Hydropower: Its Amazing Potential-A Theoretical Perspective

With the energy becoming the current catch phase in business, industry and society, energy alternative are becoming increasingly popular. Hydroelectricity exists as one option to meet the growing demand for energy and also a reliable renewable resource. In simple terms, inexpensive and reliable electricity is critical to the sustained economic growth and security of any nation. Today's world is dependent on reliable, low cost and abundant energy. In nature energy cannot be created or destroyed, but its form can change. People have been using water to their advantage for thousands of years. With the passage of the time they are now using moving water for power generation. By using water for power generation, people have worked nature to achieve a better life style. In generating hydropower electricity kinetic energy of moving water is converted to electrical energy. Since water is the initial source of energy, we call this hydroelectric power or hydropower in short. Worldwide, an...

The Power of Rivers: Finding balance between energy and conservation in hydropower development

Global hydropower capacity is projected to approximately double from the 2010 installed capacity of 1,000 gigawatts (GW). This expansion would require a dramatic increase in the number of hydropower dams in river basins around the world, including many basins that still have natural, free-flowing rivers. Although hydropower can play an important role in a low-carbon energy future, a doubling of hydropower capacity risks many other values that rivers provide, including fisheries and flood-recession agriculture that feed hundreds of millions of people. “The Power of Rivers” explores the potential for achieving more balanced outcomes from hydropower development.

Analysis of Small Hydropower Generation Potential: (1) Estimation of the Potential in Ungaged Basins

Energies

Small hydropower (SHP) plants are advantageous as they have a short construction period and can be easily maintained. They also have a higher energy density than other alternative energy sources as environmentally-friendly energy sources. In general, hydropower potential is estimated based on the discharge in the river basin, and the discharge can be obtained from the stage station in the gaged basin. However, if there is no station (i.e., ungaged basin) or no sufficient discharge data, the discharge should be estimated based on rainfall data. The flow duration characteristic model is the most widely used method for the estimation of mean annual discharge because of its simplicity and it consists of rainfall, basin area, and runoff coefficient. Due to the characteristics of hydroelectric power depending on the discharge, there is a limit to guaranteeing the accuracy of estimating the generated power with only one method of the flow duration characteristic model. Therefore, this stud...

HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL MAPPING OF NIGER STATE

The paper provides an evaluation and mapping of hydropower potentials in Niger State. The aim of the study was to evaluate and map the renewable energy potentials in Niger State with the objective of assessing the hydro energy that can be harnessed for national development. An automated interpolation computer program (Surge) was used to produce hydropower potential maps. The Hydro power potential data were obtained from Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency NIHSA), Abuja. The analysis of the data indicates that the existing large Dams in the state have a total capacity of 22,880 Mm 3 and total output power of 1840 MW. The proposed large dams in the state have a total capacity of 30,232 Mm 3 with output power of about 2431MW, while the proposed medium and small Dams indicate a total capacity of 750 million Mm 3 and output of 60 MW. The hydro potential map produced using the software shows the locations of the prospective medium and small dams.