A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING SMALL HYDRO SITES IN GIS ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Massive increased demand is creating new frontiers across India and the Central Asia region. There has never been a better time to gain invaluable face-to-face contact with thousands of industry professionals and potential business associates at the region's leading power generation event. Due to problems in Hydel power projects, Small Hydropower schemes (with power generation capacity less than 3500 kW) are developed, which are cost effective, ecofriendly, and executable using locally available materials and has been proved productive, particularly in the hilly terrain. The present study aims at developing a simple, quick, and reliable approach to select suitable sites for Small Hydropower stations using an integrated Remote Sensing and GIS technique. The Indian government opened up the country's power sector in 1991 and has since implemented a series of major changes to attract private investment. Proposals for projects of Rs15 billion or less with 100 per cent foreign equity are approved automatically and major power plant components and wind turbines are exempt from import duties. With the second highest global population and ranked as the sixth largest energy consumer in the world, India is in critical need of new technologies, systems and development plans. In addition to massive demand for additional electrical power, a large percentage of installed thermal and hydro capacity is in need of reconstruction and modernization — assessments show that 34,000 MW is in need of renovation. India's electricity sector will need $170 billion for generation and transmission projects to meet power demand by 2012. While coal currently supplies around 70 per cent of the country's thermal power plants, natural gas is emerging as the preferred fuel in the power generation sector and there are plans for wind power to make a contribution of as much as 20,000 MW to the fuel mix. Nuclear power is also a critical element of the government's strategy to avoid dependence on energy imports in the future.