Hydroelectric Potential in Developing Countries

By: Sean MorrisonUniversity of Wisconsin Eau Claire

Department of Geography and Anthropology

Pros and Cons of HydropowerPros

Low Power Costs

Flexibility

Reduce CO2 emissions

Recreational use of reservoir

Pay for construction costs

Cons

Ecosystem damage

Changes downstream character of river system

Loss of land

Siltation and sedimentation

Methane emissions

Relocation

Failure Risks

The Gordon Dam in Tasmania, installed capacity of 430 MW.

US Hydropower The US was one of the first countries to utilize hydropower in the late 19th and early 20th

century. In 1920 40% of US power was provided by hydroelectricity Federal investment in the early 20th century provided fund necessary to build numerous

hydroelectric dams across the country. New Deal programs lead to the investment in the hydroelectric dams across the country

including the: Tennessee Valley Authority Hoover Dam Bonneville Power Administration

William Gropper’s Construction of a Dam

Currently 1.7 billion people live without electricity. Roughly 40% of the population of developing countries.Only 5% of Africa’s Hydropower is developed.

Small Hyrdopower (SHP) No agreed upon definition but usually 10MW run-on-the-

river dams.

Minimize many of the disadvantages of hydropower

Expanding commercial markets for renewable energy

have lead to increased investment in SHP worldwide.

Currently generate SHP generates 25,000MW in

developing countries. Large Hydropower generates

260,000MW.

SHP important in rural energy development.

Comparatively cheap to build.

Many companies make prebuilt turbines for easy

installation.

Equipment is small allowing for easy

transportation.

Typical layout of a SHP station. Photo taken in China. Water enters the station from mountain streams through the black pipe seen in the photo.

Basic layout of a run-on-the-river small hydropower station.

Case Studies

China Tax reduction, grants, soft loans promote

investment in SHP Invests roughly 30 million Euro in SHP per

year Construct about half of worlds SHP

equipment About 22% of energy comes from

hydropower

India 1,700MW of installed SHP Potential for 15,000 MW of SHP

Uganda Potential for 200MW of SHP Very few facilities installed

Brazil 88% of energy from hydropower 9,600MW SHP installed 1,400MW SHP proposed

The Three gorges dam on the Yangtze River in China is currently the world largest hydroelectric dam. It has an installed capacity of 22,500 MW and flooded an area of 632 sq km.

Large dams and reservoirs help power Brazil’s electricity needs. However the reservoirs flood large areas of land disrupting local ecosystems.

The Itaipu Dam is the largest dam in the world in terms of annual electrical production. In 2008 it generated 94.68TWh, providing 90% of Paraguay’s and 19% of Brazil’s electrical consumption. The dam has an installed capacity of 14,000 MW.

Southeastern Anatolian Project - Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi- (GAP)

Project to provide electricity and irrigation to rural regions of southeastern Turkey.

22 dams with 19 hydropower station.

When completed will irrigate over 1,000,000 hectares of land and provide 7,500 MW of power.

Controversy has arisen from:

Resettlement of people

Loss of cultural artifacts

Fears from downstream countries since the dams would allow Turkey to control the flow of the

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Grand Inga Dam Two dams already built. Two being

planned. Expected $80 Billion cost. 39,000 MW of power. Congo drops 96m with average flow

of 42,476m3/s.

References

Hausman, W. J., Neufeld, J. L., 1999, Falling water: The origins of direct federal participation in the US

electric utility industry, 1902-1933: Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, v. 70, p. 49-74.

Hydroelectricity, 2013, Wikimedia Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectric#History (accessed

April 2013).

Inga Dams, 2013, Wikimedia Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inga_Dam#Inga_III (accessed April

2013).

Itaipu Dam, 2013, Wikimedia Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itaipu_dam (accessed April 2013).

Martinot, E., Chaurey, A., Lew, D., Moreira, J.R., Wamukonya, N., 2002, Renewable energy markets in

developing countries: Annual Review of Energy and the Enviroment, v. 27, p. 309-348.

Three Gorges Dam, 2013, Wikimedia Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_gorges_dam (accessed

April 2013).