An investigation of small scale hydropower plants using the geographic information system

Abstract

The combining of evaluation instruments into Geographic Information System (GIS) environments has caused an advancement in solidifying the evaluation and analysis of the hydropower potential existing for the streams in the case of the spatial variability of different factors affecting stream power. GIS spatial analyses are very useful for the development of various methodologies which can be used to calculate hydropower potentials. Geographic Information System based hydrological modeling is conducted on equiareal raster cells by utilizing topographical and meteorological datasets. The input data are then compiled and analyzed using GIS data layers, including topographic characteristics, monthly evaporation and precipitation data. This is essential as it allows for determination of water streams, which have sufficient or high amounts of water and also the potential for showing possible locations where hydropower plants can be constructed. This study aims to analyze the application of a Geographical Information System for computing the theoretical surface hydropower potential by taking Bilecik regional Sakarya Basin of Turkey as a case study. The study has shown that streams found in the Bilecik region have a good potential for hydropower production. In the study area, 85 possible designated locations of small hydropower plants (SHP) have been determined allowing for different annual energy production levels. The results of this study are very significant for the regional planning in collaboration with decision making authorities such as politicians and technical staff, so that hydropower plant construction and operations can be maximized in efficiency.