Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-fvjsw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-12T19:09:15.580Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Small-scale Hydroelectric Power for Developing Countries: Methodology of Site-selection Based on Environmental Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Glenn F. Cada and
Frank Zadroga
Glenn F. Cada
Affiliation:
Research Associate, Environmental Impacts Program, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
Frank Zadroga
Affiliation:
Agency for International Development, Regional Office for Central American Programs (ROCAP), 8A Calle 7-86, Zona 9, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Get accessRights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Small Hydropower Projects (SHPs), defined as including hydroelectric generating facilities with capacities of 1,000 kW or less, have great potential for elevating the standard of living and contributing to the economic growth of isolated rural communities especially in Third World countries. However, construction and operation of an SHP can result in adverse environmental impacts that should be assessed in the initial stages of site-selection and avoided in the development.

Environmental concerns can be factored into a site-selection process both at the screening and feasibility stages. The screening study is the process by which a large number of potential sites are reduced to a much smaller number of candidate sites based on coarsegrained engineering, socio-economic, and environmental, criteria. Although many of the factors determining the suitability of a given site at the screening stage involve basic engineering or economic questions, fundamental environmental issues that should be addressed include an appropriate resource-development strategy to accompany the SHPs, the quality and quantity of water available for all project needs, the presence of near-by protected areas, habitats, or important species, and the adequacy of local support for environmental protection requirements of the project.

The feasibility study is the final stage of site selection, where a relatively small number of candidate SHP sites are examined in proper detail and the best are selected for development. Potential environmental impacts of SHPs range from flow-disruption downstream to the spread of water-borne diseases and parasites, and are related to the design and size of the facility. We provide a check-list of environmental data that should be collected at this stage in order to judge the significance of projected impacts of candidate SHPs.

It is important that site selection and impact evaluation be conducted by competent individuals with formal training and experience in an appropriate environmental field. After compiling relevant information (e.g., through literature searches and contacts with government agencies or universities), the feasibility study team should visit the site of each at all likely-to-be chosen SHP. This will allow the interdisciplinary team's members to identify any previously unanticipated problems, to receive inputs from the local community, and to weigh the various benefits and consequences of SHP development before making their final selection.

Information

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , Winter 1982, pp. 329 - 338
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Bachman, R. (1978). Algae—an overview. Pp. 65–79 in Environmental Effects of Large Dams. (Report by the Committee on Environmental Effects of the U. S. Committee on Large Dams.) American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY, USA: 225 pp.Google Scholar
Baxter, R.M. (1977). Environmental effects of dams and impoundments. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 8, pp. 255–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, A.W.A. & Deom, J.O. (1973). Summary: Health aspects of man-made lakes. Pp. 755–64 in Man-made Lakes: Their Problems and Environmental Effects (Ed. Ackermann, W.C., White, G. F. & Worthington, E. B.). Geophysical Monograph 17, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, USA: xvi + 847 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Buma, P.G. & Day, S.C. (1977). Channel morphology below reservoir storage projects. Environmental Conservation, 4 (4). pp. 279–84, 10 figs.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cada, G.F. & Zadroga, F. (1981). Environmental Issues and Site Selection Criteria for Small Hydropower Projects in Developing Countries. (ORNL/TM-7620.) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA: 47 pp.Google Scholar
Cada, G.F., Kumar, K.D., Solomon, J.A. & Hildebrand, S.G. (1981). Analysis of Environmental Issues Related to Small-scale Hydroelectric Development, VI: Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations Below Operating Dams. (ORNL/TM-7887.) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA: 68 pp.Google Scholar
Geen, G.H. (1974). Effects of hydroelectric development in western Canada on aquatic ecosystems. J. Fish. Res. Board Can., 31(5), pp. 913–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heinzenknecht, G.B. & Paterson, J.R. (1978). Effects of large dams and reservoirs on wildlife habitat. Pp. 101–47 in Environmental Effects of Large Dams. (Report by the Committee on Environmental Effects of the U.S. Committee on Large Dams.) American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY, USA: 225 pp.Google Scholar
Hildebrand, S.G. (Ed.). (1980 a). Analysis of Environmental Issues Related to Small-scale Hydroelectric Development, III: Water Level Fluctuations. (ORNL/TM-7453.) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA: 78 pp. + 1 appendix.Google Scholar
Hildebrand, S.G. (Ed.). (1980 b). Analysis of Environmental Issues Related to Small-scale Hydroelectric Development, II: Design Considerations for Passing Fish Upstream Around Dams. (ORNL/TM-7396.) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA: 78 pp.Google Scholar
Loar, J.M., Dye, L.L., Turner, R.R. & Hildebrand, S.G. (1980). Analysis of Environmental Issues Related to Small-scale Hydroelectric Development, I: Dredging. (ORNL/TM-7228.) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA: 134 pp.Google Scholar
Loar, J.M. & Sale, M.J. (1981). Analysis of Environmental Issues Related to Small-scale Hydroelectric Development, V: Instream Flow Needs for Fishery Resources. (ORNL/TM-7861.) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA: 123 pp.Google Scholar
Mitchell, D.S. (1973). Aquatic weeds in man-made lakes. Pp. 606–11 in Man-made Lakes: Their Problems and Environmental Effects (Ed. Ackermann, W.C., White, G.F. & Worthington, E.B.). Geophysical Monograph 17, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, USA: xvi + 847 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
National Academy of Sciences (1976 a). Energy for Rural Development. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, USA: 306 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
National Academy of Sciences (1976 b). Making Aquatic Weeds Useful: Some Perspectives for Developing Countries. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, USA: 175 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Petts, G.E. (1980). Long-term consequences of upstream impoundment. Environmental Conservation, 7(4), pp. 325–32, 4 figs.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rhodes, M. L. (1978 a). Aquatic weeds in man-made lakes: Their nature, some problems, and potential solutions. Pp. 81–92 in Environmental Effects of Large Dams. (Report by the Committee on Environmental Effects of the U.S. Committee on Large Dams.) American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY, USA: 225 pp.Google Scholar
Rhodes, M.L. (1978 b). Aquatic weeds in man-made lakes: Disease vectors. Pp. 93–99 in Environmental Effects of Large Dams. (Report by the Committee on Environmental Effects of the U.S. Committee on Large Dams.) American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY, USA: 225 pp.Google Scholar
Stein, J. (1977 a). Water for the wealthy. Environment, 19(4), pp. 6–14.Google Scholar
Stein, J. (1977 b). Fumbled help at the well. Environment, 19(5), pp. 14–5.Google Scholar
Trefethen, J.B. (1973). Man-made lakes and wildlife values. Pp. 750–4 in Man-made Lakes: Their Problems and Environmental Effects (Ed. Ackermann, W.C., White, G.F. & Worthington, E.B.). Geophysical Monograph 17, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, USA: xvi + 847 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Turbak, S.C., Reichle, D.R. & Shriner, C.R. (1980). Analysis of Environmental Issues Related to Small-scale Hydroelectric Development, IV: Fish Mortality Resulting from Turbine Passage. (ORNL/TM-7521.) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA: 112 pp.Google Scholar