STREAM FLOW SERIES FOR PLANNING HYDEL PROJECTS IN SIKKIM HIMALAYAS

by Dr. P. R. Rao Former Chief Engineer (Hydrology), Central Water Commission, New Delhi & Mr. Anshuman Gothwal Gati Infrastructure Ltd, Gurgaon ABSTRACT

1. Guidelines and codes generally recommend the procedures based on technology available and the ground situation obtaining at that point of time. Earlier, hydro-electric schemes were conceived as standalone projects owned and operated by Government Departments while presently they are being financed, built and operated as part of a grid by Private Sector Companies. In view of huge gap between power supply and demand in the region, sale of every unit of power generated by the power houses connected to the grid is anticipated and the power generated is no more classified into firm power and seasonal power. Planning and design practices, therefore, need to be reviewed and codes / manuals need to be urgently revised taking into consideration the technological and sociological advances and the changing economy concepts. 2. Many run-of-the-river hydro-electric projects have been proposed in Sikkim Himalayas with a view to exploiting the vast hydro-power potential of the Teesta basin. Water availability is normally considered the most critical parameter in their planning and design. Long term stream flow series is needed to carry out optimization studies for arriving at optimal installation (size & number of units) and to assess the annual / seasonal power generation for proving the viability of the project. 3. In this paper, methodology adopted to arrive at the long-term stream flow series for planning / design of Chuzachen hydroelectric scheme in Sikkim is presented. Annual power generation values were computed as per norms of Central Electricity Authority for four alternative scenarios. It is seen that : Power generation during 4 monsoon months (June September), for all practical purposes, is same irrespective of the stream flow series considered. Likely errors in measurement of stream flow during 4 monsoon months do not vitiate the assessment of power generation during the four monsoon months (300 million kwh + 2%). During the eight non-monsoon months (October May), power generation is directly proportional to 8-months' total yield (around 270 million kwh per 1 mcm / sq km yield of eight non-monsoon months) and Errors in individual 10-daily stream flow values do not affect the power generation assessment so long as the total non-monsoon yield is assessed reasonably accurately.

4. An interesting conclusion of this study is: For assessment of mean annual power generation, it is enough to know (a) the duration (monsoon season) when stream flows are greater than the design discharge of the power house installation and (b) total lean flow season yield of the catchment.