Title: Hydropower simulation model to predict the impact of environmental flow rules on power production potential
Abstract: Operation of a hydropower dam will impact river hydrology downstream of the turbines where water is returned to the river and in any bypassed reach of river. Proposed hydropower projects would be expected to assess the environmental flow requirements (EFRs) of the impacted reaches. These EFRs could have a major impact on the project financial viability. We developed a hydropower operation simulation model for use in the pre-feasibility phase of project assessment that predicts downstream river flows, hydropower production and revenue at an hourly time-step. The model determines the optimum power generation profile for each day, depending on a range of variables, including dam inflows, EFRs, rules constraining rates of rise and fall in discharge, and reservoir level. Both run-of-river and hydro-peaking modes of operation can be considered. The simulation model was applied to the case of a proposed dam on the R o Oco a, Peru, a river with high value ecosystem and livelihood assets. It was found that mean revenue from run-of-river operation with EFRs that would likely provide reasonable protection for the river assets would be 37 - 46% of that from a scenario of hydro-peaking operation with no EFRs.
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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