COST EFFECTIVE HYDROPOWER GENERATION

Abstract

Energy is an important infrastructure for overall development of any nation in the world. The standard of living of a country can be directly related to per capita energy consumption. Demand of energy is increasing day by day. To meet the ever increasing demand it is necessary to develop the renewable sources of energy. One of the major reliable and renewable energy sources is small hydropower. Small hydro power installations typically service small communities with limited resources, for SHP the initial capital cost becomes the overriding issue, it is important to minimize the power per unit cost. Cost of hydropower potential depends on mainly two variables head and installed capacity. The cost of any management_ system can generally be classified into three basic categories i.e. capital, operating and risks. Small Hydro Power installations are influenced with the selection of site, proper planning of the scheme on optimization basis, hydrological and optimum power potential studies, careful and optimum designs of structures, realistic cost estimates with rates, use of construction techniques and materials appropriate to small hydro and efficient execution. The procedure for cost-effective analysis is a systematic comparison of alternatives to select the one that minimizes the cost while satisfying technical limitations and preferences over the expected time for operation. The total cost of the project is related to installed capacity and benefits from its effective generation. In the present study basic parameters for cost effective planning of SHP schemes has been studied i.e. parameters like cost of civil works components of intake weir, desilting tank, penstock, power house and tailrace channel have been worked out for different combinations of head and capacity, For each combination of layouts of SHP schemes sizes of components has been determined by designing the structures and quantities of different items of civil works were determined. Based on quantities and prevailing rates cost of each component was worked out for different sites having different geographical and hydrological conditions. The economic parameters i.e. Cost benefit ratio and net present value have also calculated for various layouts to determine the optimum layout.