EVALUATION OF SELECTED HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL SITES (A Case Study in Abbay River Basin, Ethiopia)

Abstract

Ethiopia has significant water resources, which can be appropriately utilized to enhance the socio-economic development of its people. Abbay River Basin is one of the major and largest drainage basins of the country with ample_ water resources potential. ��ptimum development of water resource is a key element to sustainable development of a country. [Hydropower is one of the available water resources in hilly regions] X ». Though, the country endowed with a large hydropower potential, various documents and reports indicates that different figures/ magnitudes on the potential. WAPCOS, 1990 which is one q�the consultants which identifies the possible .... power potential sites of the country, identifies 129 power potential sites. ? � c;v.-e 700� By setting appropriate site evaluation criteria(-;�uation of the selected / hydropower potential of the Abbay River Basin has been done. The evaluation of the selected site have been done based on topographically map of the area and hydrological dr/a. L uvl.·u2._ s·�t..- ? I With the above view, a desk study site evaluation conducted for sites which are ·1 identified by WAPCOS, 1990. The site evaluation lowers the selected sites by 29.45% (91 possible sites). These possible sites are categorized depending on construction feature, available power, and available head. The potential of each sub-basin found in Abbay River Basin including Rahad and Dinder are also discussed.