FEASIBILITY STUDY OF MICRO HYDRO–ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION AT NDABA RIVER: A RWANDA RURAL ELECTRIFICATION CASE STUDY.

Abstract

Micro-hydropower projects have proved to be an economical and efficient alternative in the effort to power remote villages in the rural areas. The objective of this research was to assess and conduct a feasibility study on the Ndaba River as an initiative for harnessing power from micro -hydropower scheme. Its scope included various components design, the energy production evaluation and economic analysis and finally environment effects assessment. After collecting data from field surveys and in different literatures, the hydrologic analysis using HEC-HMS model has been done to estimate the flow rate and the available head was measured using a total station and GPS receiver. Feasibility analysis incorporating economic analysis to assess the viability of the project using RETSceen module and a basic environment impact assessment has been done. The results of the work indicate that the proposed site has a gross head of 133m and a designed flow of 0.54m 3 /s at 95% time of exccedence. Some preliminary designs of main hydropower plant components were done. A Pelton turbine was selected as the preferred turbine. The estimated maximum power capacity of the plant produced was 1.028MW during the rainy season and the minimum production capacity of the plant is 0.498MW during the dry season. Annual energy production estimated from the module was 4290MWh while power capacity was 536KW and the anticipated revenue to be generated was $85,949. The initial cost of the project estimated by RETScreen was $1,000,901. The simple payback of the project was found to be 6.3 years. The Positive Net Values (NPV) for Ndaba MHP was greater than one and is an indication of a potentially feasible project. The potential negative impacts posed by the facility will be mitigated. The development of proposed Ndaba MHP project is financially and technically feasible, and an infrastructure for socio-economic improvements is expected.