FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF SMALL HYDROPOWER PROJECT USING RETSCREEN DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY

A thesis submitted toward partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering
Course affiliated to Faculty of Engineering & Technology Jadavpur University

Submitted by PRIYABRATA ADHIKARY

ROLL NO.: M6WRP14-01

Under the guidance of DR. PANKAJ KUMAR ROY Associate Professor, School Of Water Resources Engineering, Jadavpur University School of Water Resources Engineering
M.E. (Water Resources & Hydraulic Engineering) course affiliated to

Faculty of Engineering and Technology Jadavpur University Kolkata-700032 India 2014

M.E. (Water Resources & Hydraulic Engineering) course affiliated to Faculty of Engineering and Technology Jadavpur University Kolkata, India _________________________________________________________________

CERTIFICATE OF RECOMMENDATION This is to certify that the thesis entitled FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF SMALL HYDROPOWER PROJECT USING RETSCREEN DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY is bonafide work carried out by PRIYABRATA ADHIKARY under our supervision and guidance for partial fulfilment of the requirement for Post Graduate Degree of Master of Engineering in Water Resources & Hydraulic Engineering during the academic session 2013-2014.

------------------------------------THESIS ADVISOR Dr. Pankaj Kumar Roy Associate Professor School of Water Resources Engineering Jadavpur university, Kolkata-700 032

------------------------------------DIRECTOR Prof. (Dr.) Asis Mazumdar School of Water Resources Engineering Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700 032

------------------------------------DEAN Faculty Council of Interdisciplinary Studies, Law and Management Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700 032

M.E. (Water Resources & Hydraulic Engineering) course affiliated to Faculty of Engineering and Technology Jadavpur University Kolkata, India

CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ** This foregoing thesis is hereby approved as a credible study of an engineering subject carried out and presented in a manner satisfactorily to warranty its acceptance as a prerequisite to the degree for which it has been submitted. It is understood that by this approval the undersigned do not endorse or approve any statement made or opinion expressed or conclusion drawn therein but approve the thesis only for purpose for which it has been submitted. ----------------------------------------------Committee of final examination for evaluation of Thesis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

** Only in case the thesis is approved.

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DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY AND COMPLIANCE OF ACADEMIC ETHICS

I hereby declare that this thesis contains literature survey and original research work by the undersigned candidate, as part of his Master of Engineering in Water Resources & Hydraulic Engineering studies during academic session 2013-2014. All information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by this rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referred all material and results that are not original to this work. NAME: PRIYABRATA ADHIKARY ROLL NUMBER: M6WRP14-01 THESIS TITLE: FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF SMALL HYDROPOWER PROJECT USING RETSCREEN DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY

SIGNATURE:

DATE:

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
_________________________________________________________________ I express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Pankaj Kumar Roy Associate Professor, School of Water Resources Engineering, Jadavpur University, under whose supervision and guidance this work has been carried out. It would have been impossible to carry out this thesis work with confidence without his wholehearted involvement, advice, support and constant encouragement throughout. I also express my sincere gratitude to Prof.(Dr.) Asis Mazumdar, Director, School of Water Resources Engineering, Jadavpur University; Dr. Debasri Roy, Associate Professor, School of Water Resources Engineering, Jadavpur University; Prof.(Dr.) Arunabha Mazumdar, Professor-Emeritus, School of Water Resources Engineering, Jadavpur University; Shri Subhasish Das Assistant Professor, School of Water Resources Engineering and Shri Rajib Das, Assistant Professor, School of Water Resources Engineering for their valuable suggestions. Thanks are also due to all the staffs of School of Water Resources Engineering and the Regional Centre, NAEB, Jadavpur University for their help and support. I also express my sincere gratitude to Prof.(Dr.) B. Majumdar, Power Engineering Department, Jadavpur University for his valuable guidance. Last but not the least; I am also grateful to my family for the earnest support and dedicate my M.E. thesis to them.

Date: May, 2014 Place: S.W.R.E., Jadavpur University

-------------------------------PRIYABRATA ADHIKARY (Roll No. : M6WRP14-01)

ABSTRACT The assessment of Small Hydropower Project (SHPP) sites for project planning and development represents a relatively high proportion of overall cost. A high level of experience and expertise is required to accurately conduct this multidimensional assessment at both pre-feasibility and feasibility analysis stage. A variety of computerbased feasibility assessment tools (IMP-5.0, RETScreen, Hydro-Help, HOMER, iHOGA etc.) have been developed for the same. However, a reliable assessment implies physical site surveying and planning at pre-feasibility stage itself. The advent of Geographic Information System (GIS) along with these feasibility analysis software tools has been of enormous use for the feasibility analysis of any renewable energy project (including small hydropower project) at minimum time-cost-effort for making further decision. Renewable energy sources are getting much more important to replace conventional energy sources (fossil fuel) and reduce the increasing threat coming from greenhouse gases. Hence small hydropower is becoming one of the cheapest as well as most important sources of renewable energy. It is much more advantageous than medium or large hydropower projects. This thesis is based on application of one of the widely used small hydropower development decision support system tool i.e. RETScreen software. A case study is also performed to illustrate the successful use of this program for feasibility study of a small hydropower project in India at minimum time-cost-effort based on the available pre-feasibility report. Chapter-1 gives the introduction of the M.E. Thesis along with the literature review, thesis objective and scope of work. Chapter-2 discussed on the overall hydropower scenario in world as well as India along with the hydropower working principle and other basics. Chapter-3 gives the concept of small hydropower as a means of sustainable energy solution for future. Chapter-4 gives the details of prefeasibility report of the case study project. In Chapter-5 various decision support system tools are discussed those are used world wide for small hydropower project development. Chapter-6 gives the detailed feasibility analysis for validating the prefeasibility report of the case study project using RETScreen decision support system. Chapter-7 gives the conclusion of the RETScreen analysis. Keywords: Small Hydropower Development, Feasibility Study, RETScreen, GIS, MCDA

CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............v ABSTRACT...01 1. INTRODUCTION...04 1.1. Introduction.05 1.2. Literature Review...06 1.3. The Objective of the Study08 1.4. The Scope of the Study09 2. HYDROPOWER PROJECTS....10 2.1. History of Hydropower.11 2.2. Hydropower in the World..11 2.3. Hydropower in India..12 2.4. Hydropower in Eastern India...12 2.5. Working Principle of Hydropower Plants14 2.6. Advantage of Hydropower Plants.15 2.7. Disadvantage of Hydropower Plants..16 2.8. Hydropower Project Implementation Process...17 3. SMALL HYDROPOWER PROJECTS A NEW CONCEPT.19 3.1. Definition of Small Hydropower20 3.2. Historical Background of Small Hydropower...23 3.3. Small Hydropower in the World...23 3.4. Small Hydropower in India23 3.5. Small Hydropower in Eastern India...24 3.6. Advantages of Small Hydropower26 3.7. Disadvantages of Small Hydropower Plants.27 3.8. Small Hydro Project Development..27 4. PRE FEASIBILITY REPORT A CASE STUDY....29 4.1. Project Location..30 4.2. Project Pre feasibility Report Summary.31 4.3. Project Hydrology..33 4.4. Project Meteorological Conditions33 4.5. Project Geology..34 4.6. Project Engineering Aspects..34 4.7. Project Environmental Aspects35 4.8. Project Economic Aspects36 5. RETSCREEN-SMALL HYDRO PROJECT ANALYSIS SOFTWARE...38 5.1. Small Hydro Assessment Tools-An Overview39 5.2. RETScreen Software42

6. RETSCREEN BASED FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS (CASE STUDY PROJECT)....44 6.1. Start Sheet..45 6.2. Energy Model Sheet.46 6.3. Cost Analysis Sheet48 6.4. GHG Emission Reduction Analysis Sheet49 6.5. Financial Analysis Sheet.50 6.6. Sensitivity and Risk Analysis Sheet.51 6.7. Results & Discussion...53 6.8. Project Optimization59 7. CONCLUSION.60 REFERENCES.63 ANNEXURE - I - RETScreen Small Hydro Project Analysis Formulae.66 ANNEXURE - II - Small Hydropower Development Training81 ANNEXURE - III - Small Hydropower Site Visit..82 ANNEXURE - IV - Published International Journal Papers...84 ANNEXURE - V RETScreen Analysis Worksheet.....85