Small hydropower development potential in the Densu River Basin, Ghana

Abstract

The study investigated potential sites for the development of Small Hydropower Systems (SHP) to augment the existing energy supply in the UDRB. Remote sensing and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) were employed to generate and simulate basin parameters for the hydropower analysis. The energy potential of suitable sites was evaluated using flow duration curves (FDC) and power duration curves (PDC). Results indicate that the upper DRB has potential for small hydropower development with nine sites along the river having an estimated combined firm power of 7.89 MW. The highest hydropower potential sites were located at HP1, HP7, and HP4 with corresponding firm energies of 13.39 GWh, 7.94 GWh, and 6.83 GWh and estimated annual energy production of 28.68 GWh, 14.36 GWh, and 12.68 GWh respectively. Given the adequate spacing distance between sites HP1 and HP4 (11.38 km) and HP4 and HP7 (11.31 km) with a combined annual energy production of 55.72 GWh, a cascade hydropower arrangement of sites HP1, HP4, and HP7 is recommended along the Upper section of the Densu River. However, based on the analysis, these hydropower sites could be developed as a cascade storage hydropower with a 50% or 75% dependability with an installed Francis turbine.