INTRODUCTION TO

HYDROPOWER

LUNISH YAKAMI 13-14 May 2023

Principal Engineer
Training on
HYDROPOWER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
(Baisakh 2080)
OUTLINE: M1 INTRODUCTION TO HYDROPOWER
• INTRODUCTION
• HOW HYDROPOWER WORKS
• ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
• HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
• HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN NEPAL
• ENERGY SCENARIO
• ESTIMATION OF HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL
• TYPES OF HYDROPOWER
• SELECTION OF INSTALLED CAPACITY
• HYDROPOWER PLANNING AND INVESTIGATION
• ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY
• PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS
• CHALLENGES OF HYDROPOWER
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION

• A renewable, non-polluting and environment friendly source of energy

• Oldest energy technique known to mankind for conversion of mechanical energy into

electrical energy

• Contributes around 20% of world electricity supply generated.

• Offers the most fastest economical means to enhance power supply, improve living

standards, stimulate industrial growth and enhance agriculture with the least impact

and without heavy transmission losses.

HOW HYDROPOWER WORKS

- DAMS AND RESERVOIRS

- WATER FLOW AND TURBINE

- GENERATOR AND ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

HISTORY OF HYDROPOWER
WATER WHEEL SYSTEMS

► Water wheel systems are simple

in design and used for
exploitation of water power in
developing countries where
their simplicity of design of an
attractive feature.

► Used for: Flours mills, pumping

water etc.
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

► https://www.hydropower.org/iha/discover-history-of-
hydropower
► 202 BC to 9 Ad Han Dynasty: Water wheel were used to
pound and hall grain, break ore and in early paper
making
► 1771 in England , Richard Arkwright established cotton
factory , operated hydropower was the energy source.
INVENTIONS IN TURBINE TECHNOLOGY

► In 1827, French Engineer Benoit Fourneyron developed a turbine capable

of producing around 6 horse power reaction turbine
► In 1849, British American engineer James Francis Developed first modern
water turbine called Francis turbine.
► In the 1870s, American inventor Laester Allan Pelton developed Pelton
Turbine: Impulse Turbine
► In 1913, Austrian Professor Viktor Kaplan developed the Kaplan Turbine.
FIRST HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

• In 1878,The first hydroelectric project was used to power A single lamp in

England
• In 1880-1881, Hydropower plants were installed at Grand Rapids Michigan,
Ottawa Ontario, New York Nigeria Falls
• In 1895, Germany produce first three phase hydro electric system.
• In 1900, hundreds of small hydropower plants were in operation as the
emerging technology spread across the world.
• In 1905, Xindina creek in china developed 500kW hydropower plant
ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER

- CLEAN AND RENEWABLE

- RELIABLE

- CAN PROVIDE OTHER BENEFITS (FLOOD CONTROL, IRRIGATION, RECREATION)

- CHARGING UP VARIABLE RENEWABLES

Hydropower is an ideal complement to variable renewables like wind and solar, thanks to its
flexibility and energy storage services.

Hydropower can meet demand when these intermittent sources are unavailable. Pumped
storage hydropower, operating like a green, rechargeable battery, absorbs energy when
supply exceeds demand.
DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER

- IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT (DISRUPTION OF AQUATIC HABITATS, ALTERED RIVER FLOW)

- SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACTS (DISPLACEMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES)

- VULNERABILITY TO DROUGHTS AND CHANGES IN WATER AVAILABILITY

HYDROPOWER IN NEPAL
WATER RESOURCES IN NEPAL

• Claims of Nepal as “ second richest country “ in the world after Brazil in

hydropower potential has never been validated.
• Students and general public have been inundated with the 83000 MW
potential rhetoric-based on a 1966 PhD of Dr. Hari Man Shrestha
• Another study lead by Prof. Narendra Man Shakya has shown that Nepal
has a total potential to generate 53000 MW of hydropower
• Another Study revels 43000 MW of economically and technically feasible
hydroelectricity (NPC 1985)
• Despite these discrepancies, the general consensus is that Hydropower has
the potential for uplifting the lives of the Nepalese.
HISTORY OF HYDROPOWER IN NEPAL

• Pharping HP is one of
the oldest plants of
Asia and the first
hydropower plant of
Nepal
• Established in 1911
while the first
hydropower plant in
China was established
in 1912.
HISTORY OF HYDROPOWER IN NEPAL

• In 1911 May 22, Chadra Jyoti hydropower plant was stablished at Pharping
with 500kW capacity.
• After 25 year of first installation, Dev Shamser initiated 640kW Sundarijal
Hydropower plant
• In 1939,Sikarbas Hydropower plant at Chisag Khola hydropower was
established with 677kW installed capacity.
ENERGY SCENARIO
HYDROPOWER INSTALLED CAPACITY
GLOBALLY 2021

Source: IHA (2021)

ENERGY STATUS 2021

Source: IHA (2021)

TYPES OF HYDROPOWER
TYPES OF HYDROPOWER

- RUN-OF-RIVER

- STORAGE

- PUMPED-STORAGE

- OFF-SHORE HYDROPOWER
Run-of-River Project
PUMPED HYDRO

WORLD'S BIGGEST
BATTERY

Pumped storage
hydropower is the
world's largest
battery technology,
accounting for over
94 per cent of
installed global
energy storage
capacity, well ahead
of lithium-ion and
other battery types.
PUMPED HYDRO

The Ludington pumped storage project (2,292MW) in Michigan entered service in 1973
PUMPED HYDRO

Source: IHA (2021)

BASIN DIVERSION PROJECTS

• Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project

• Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project
• Kaligandaki Tinau Diversion Multipurpose Project
HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL
HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL CAPACITY

Source: IHA (2021)

HYDROPOWER ENERGY POTENTIAL
HYDROPOWER ENERGY POTENTIAL
Historical development of
hydropower (world)
Forecast of hydropower (world)
Global hydropower capacity additions by
leading countries, 2021 - 2030

Source: Hydropower special market report analysis and forecast to 2030, IEA
Estimation of hydropower potential

• Estimated hydropower potential is approximately

83000MW.
• Economically feasible: 43000MW
Hydropower potential in Nepal
160000

140000

120000

100000
MW

80000

60000

40000

20000

0
Q20 Power (MW) Q40 Power (MW) Q60 Power (MW) Q80 Power (MW) Average Power (MW)
Province No 7 18699.54 6577.95 3749.16 2734.4 10405.1
Province No 6 26870.39 11140.85 5644.29 3865.58 14564.31
Province No 5 7197.46 2320.71 1033.62 736.37 5205.4
Province No 4 30639.43 11133.15 5217.33 3528 15890.63
Province No 3 24560.88 9489.08 4318.46 2655.63 13185.11
Province No 1 39567.81 15615.77 7164.16 4951.78 20453.26
Ref. Khimananda Kandel, 2018
Demand Forecast until 2040

60000
BAU 4.5%
Total Installed Capacity Requirement MW

50000
Reference Scenario 7.2%
40000

High Scenario 9.2%

30000

20000 7.2% growth with policy

intervention
10000
9.2% growth with policy
intervention
0
2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Year

Ref. WECS GoN, 2017

Current status of Hydropower in Nepal

SN Summary status of hydropower No. of projects Capacity (MW)

development
1 Completed projects 115 1 015
2 Projects under construction 117 3 373
3 Issued construction licenses for generation 197 7 506
4 Issued survey licenses 309 17 990.3
5 Application received for survey licenses 23 1 362
Total 761 30 231

Ref. DoED, GoN 2018

ENVIRONMENT STUDY
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY

▪ Environmental means the interaction and inter-relationship among the components of

natural, cultural and social system, economic and human activities and their
components
▪ Sum of all physical, chemical, biotic and cultural factors that affect life of organism in
any way
COMPONENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY

Three components
• Bio-physical
• Land, water and air, including all layers of the atmosphere
• All organic and inorganic matter and living organism, and
• The interacting natural system that include these components

• Socio-economic and cultural

• The social, economic and cultural conditions that affect the lives of people and
communities

• Built environment
• Any building or structure or things made by the people
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA)

• EA can be defined as a planning tools to identify, understand, assess, and mitigate,

where possible, the environmental effects of project
• In hydropower project: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Initial
Environmental Assessment (IEE)
• EIA is defined as the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the
biological, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major
decision being taken and commitment made
• In Nepal EA is defined as the detail study and evaluation and IEE is defined as an
analytical study or evaluation
CRITERIA FOR IEE OR EIA FOR HYDRO

▪ Hydropower require IEE study:

▪ Any project with capacity of 1 MW up to 50 MW
▪ Supply of electricity through the installation of transmission lines of 132 kV or more
capacity
▪ Hydropower require EIA study:
▪ Any project with capacity of more than 50 MW
▪ Any project including loss of above 5 hectare of forest land
▪ Any development project that falls under the jurisdiction of the National Parks,
Wildlife Reserves, Conservation area or Buffer Zone declared by the GoN
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IEE & EIA
IEE EIA
Generally conducted for small project Generally conducted for large project
Scoping not required Scoping required
IEE to be approved by concerned body within 21 days EIA to be reviewed by concerned body and approved by MOEST
within 60 days and by latest within 90 days upon its receipt

Environmental auditing not required Environmental auditing required

A 15 days public notice to be published in national daily Public hearing is mandatory after the preparation of draft EIA. A
newspaper and notice to be affixed in the project area after the 15 days public notice to be published in national newspaper and
preparation of the draft of IEE report notice to be affixed in the project area after the preparation of the
draft EIA report

Deals with generally known and easily predictable impacts Also deals with unknown impacts

Public input at different stages of report preparation Public inputs also during the approval process

May recommended for further assessment In general does not recommended for further assessment
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

• Requires substantial investment in terms of time, efforts and finances

• depends on extent of various investigations such as topographical
survey, hydrological survey, load survey, socio- economic survey,
geological survey, survey on environmental & ecological aspects,
materials survey and muck disposal survey as per requirement
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

▪ Carried out in two stages

► prefeasibility study
► Detailed surveys and
investigations
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

The important aspects of planning are

1. estimation of benefits,
2. selection of type of project,
3. desilting measures,
4. selection of type of structures,
5. selection of type of E&M equipment
6. Power evacuation/utilization.
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

Estimation of Benefits
• annual energy generation which depends on estimation of water
availability
• planning and selection of installed capacity, unit size and number of
units is based on economy and maximization of energy
generation.
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

Selection of Type of Project

• Whether to select run of river (ROR), canal falls, dam toe and instream
types
• depends on the site conditions, topography, geology and the
economy
• projects without pondage, the unit size is so planned as to operate at
the minimum discharge available.
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

Desilting Measures
▪ Provision of desilting measures is important especially projects in
Himalayan rivers
▪ The sediment characteristics should be determined by sampling and
laboratory testing
▪ Considering the head on the turbine, sediment characteristics and the
expected erosion, desilting measures should be planned.
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

Selection of Type of Structures

• local available construction material and labor be used
optimally to make the project economical
• Depending on site conditions like topography, geology
and the economy, the selection between channel, pipe and
tunnel is made judiciously
PLANNING OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

▪ Data Collection
▪ Map studies
▪ Field visit
▪ Mapping and site geotechnical investigations
▪ Conceptual design
▪ Economic evaluation
▪ Report on preliminary studies
Power and Energy Estimation
POWER ESTIMATION

P = g   Q  H
P  10   Q  H

▪ P = power in kilowatts (kW)

▪ g = gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s2)
▪  = turbo-generator efficiency (0<n<1)
▪ Q = quantity of water flowing (m3/sec)
▪ H = effective head (m)
EXAMPLE 1A
Consider a mountain stream with an effective head of 25 meters (m) and a
flow rate of 600 liters (ℓ) per minute. How much power could a hydro plant
generate? Assume plant efficiency () of 83%.

• H = 25 m
• Q = 600 ℓ/min × 1 m3/1000 ℓ × 1 min/60sec
Q = 0.01 m3/sec
•  = 0.83

• P  10QH = 10(0.83)(0.01)(25) = 2.075

P  2.1 kW
EXAMPLE 1B

How much energy (E) will the hydro plant generate each year?

▪ E = P×t
E = 2.1 kW × 24 hrs/day × 365 days/yr
E = 18,396 kWh annually

About how many people will this energy support (assume approximately
3,000 kWh / person)?

▪ People = E÷3000 = 18396/3000 = 6.13

▪ About 6 people
EXAMPLE 2
Consider a second site with an effective head of 100 m and a flow rate

of 6,000 cubic meters per second (about that of Niagara Falls). Answer

the same questions.

• P  10QH = 10(0.83)(6000)(100)
P  4.98 million kW = 4.98 GW (gigawatts)

• E = P×t = 4.98GW × 24 hrs/day × 365 days/yr

E = 43,625 GWh = 43.6 TWh (terrawatt hours)

• People = E÷3000 = 43.6 TWh / 3,000 kWh

People = 1.45 million people

• (This assumes maximum power production 24x7)

ESTIMATION OF HYDRO POWER
CONSTRUCTION

• Estimated development costs

• $2,000-4,000 per kW

• Civil engineering 65-75% of total

• Environmental studies & licensing 15-25%

• Turbo-generator & control systems ~10%

• Ongoing costs add ~1-2% to project NPV (!)

Challenges in Hydropower Development
CHALLENGES

• Issues in Small Hydro Power Development in Nepal

• Hydropower Financing- Project financing is challenging
• Multiple Agencies- Lack of ‘one-stop shop’ for Hydropower
• NEA as a Single Buyer-Monopoly
• “Affected” Communities- Rising expectation among local residents
• Poor Road and Transmission Infrastructure- high Social overhead cost
• Risks
• Hydrological Risks
• Geological Risks
• Unstable Political Situation
• Sediment Problem
CHALLENGES
• POLITICAL and POLICY CONSTRAINTS
• Lack of Political Will
• Persistent political instability
• Aspiration of local people
• State Reconstruction

• Case study of Kaligandaki-Tinau Multipurpose project

• Issue of License and institutional constraints

• Monopoloy of NEA over transmission and distribution or power
• Overlapping responsibilities among governmental ministries
and departments
• Inconsistency among various hydropower policies.
CHALLENGES
• Financial Challenges
Lack of project financing
• Equity Financing mismatch

• Bank Loan

• Credit Rating

• Capital market

• Technical Challenges
• Technical Manpower

• Lack of long term hydrological and sediment data

• Technological development ( lack of turbine manufacturing facilities)

• Absence of Storage-type Projects

CHALLENGES

• “Affected" Communities
• Local disturbance and more demand from locals

• Possible solution: Shares to the local communities

• Poor Road and Transmission Infrastructure

• Road and Transmission Line: Prerequisites for private
hydropower development
• Lack of infrastructure increases cost of projects
• More government investment needed
CHALLENGES

• Climate Change
• Water Resources and Hydropower ranks among most vulnerable resources
• Run off variability
• Glacial retreat
• GLOF
• Sediment Load and Evaporation losses
THANK YOU