Energy and the New Reality, Volume 2:

C-Free Energy Supply

Chapter 6: Hydro-electric power
L. D. Danny Harvey
harvey@geog.utoronto.ca
Publisher: Earthscan, UK
Homepage: www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=101808
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Kinds of hydro-power
Run-of-the-river (no reservoirs)
Reservoir-based

Power production:
Mechanical power of flowing water is equal to
Pe = g Q H
where H is the head and Q the volumetric rate
of flow
Electric power produced is equal to
Pe = et g Q H
where e and t are the generator electrical and
turbine mechanical efficiencies, respectively

Figure 6.1a Low-head hydro-electric system

barrage
turbine
river flow

(a) low head

Source: Ramage (1996, Renewable Energy, Power for a Sustainable Future, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 183-226 )

Figure 6.1b Medium-heat hydro-electric system

reservoir
dam

turbine

penstock
(b) medium head
Source: Ramage (1996, Renewable Energy, Power for a Sustainable Future, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 183-226 )

Figure 6.1c High-head hydro-electric system

high reservoir

dam

turbine
penstock

(c) high head

Source: Ramage (1996, Renewable Energy, Power for a Sustainable Future, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 183-226 )

Figure 6.2 Impellors

a)

b)

c)

Fixed blades

d)

Adjustable blades (Kaplan)

Source: Ramage (1996, Renewable Energy, Power for a Sustainable Future, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 183-226 )

Figure 6.3 Impellor Space

1000

500 MW

Pelton

100 MW
100

10 MW
1 MW

10

Crossflow

Francis

100 kW

20 kW

3
0.2

Propeller
1.0

10

100

500

Volumetric Flow Rate (m3 /s)

Source: Ramage (1996, Renewable Energy, Power for a Sustainable Future, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 183-226 )

Figure 6.4 Hydro Efficiency

100

P e lt o n
C r o s s flo w

80

60

F r a n c is

P r o p e lle r

40

20

0 .2

0 .4

0 .6

0 .8

F lo w a s a P r o p o r t io n o f D e s ig n F lo w
Source: Paish (2002, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 6, 537556,
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13640321)

1 .0

Figure 6.5 Hydro-electricity generation

Current hydro-electricity
About 19% of global electrical generating
capacity in 2005 (778 GW out of 4100
GW)
About 16% of global electricity generation
in 2005 (2838 TWh out of 18000 TWh)

Figure 6.6 Top 10 countries and rest-of-world in terms of

hydro-electric power capacity in 2005. Total = 778 GW

Figure 6.7 Top 10 countries and rest-of-world in terms of

hydro-electric generation in 2005. Total = 2838 TWh.

Figure 6.8 Percent of total electricity generation as hydro-electricity

Total small-hydro (< 10 MW)

Figure 6.9 Hydro-electric generation potential

Hydro-electric generation potentials

Table 6.1 Potential energy generation (TWh/yr), existing (2005) of future generation (TWh/yr), total
electricity demand (TWh) in 2005, and percent of total electricity demand met by hydro power in
various continents and selected countries (listed for each continent in order of decreasing
technical potential). UC=under construction. Source: WEC (2007) for hydro generation, UN (2007)
for total generation.

Figure 6.10a Hydro reservoir power densities

Greenhouse gas emissions

Methane is produced from the decomposition of
organic matter already on the land when it is
flooded to produce a reservoir (this emission
decreases over time)
Methane is also produced from decomposition of
organic matter that washes into the reservoir
and decays anaerobically
For some projects, the GHG emission per kWh,
averaged over the lifetime of the projected, is
greater than that from a coal-fired powerplant!
Accurate assessment of the GHG emissions is,
however, very difficult

Figure 6.10b GHG emissions from dams in Brazil (except for Boreal)

Figure 6.11a GHG emissions vs power density for reservoirs in Brazil

Figure 6.11b GHG emissions vs power density for reservoirs in Quebec

Capital cost of hydro powerplants

Small hydro, $1000-3000/kW, developing
countries
Small hydro, $2000-9000/kW, developed
countries
Large hydro (involving dams and
reservoirs), $2000-8000/kW (including
access roads for high estimates)

Figure 6.12 Small-hydro capital cost

Source: Paish (2002, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 6, 537556,

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13640321)

Cost of hydro-electricity
(cents/kWh)
Table 6.4 Cost of hydro-electric energy (cents/kWh) for various capital costs,
interest rates, and capacity factors, assuming amortization of the initial investment
over a 50-year period. Operation and maintenance, insurance, water rent,
transmission, and administrative costs are not included.