Authors :
R Mukuka; E Nyirenda
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 2 - February
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/41JBkzM
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7698410
Abstract :
According to estimates from previous energy
studies, Zambia has a hydropower generation potential
of more than 6,000 MW. Development of small
hydropower plants which are widely considered to be
renewable energy technology will help to foster
sustainable development as well as increase access to
electricity in the country. However, most of the small
hydropower potential sites which are located in rural or
remote areas are poorly gauged, lacking adequate
streamflow and/or rainfall data required for
hydropower planning and design. As a result, a number
of sites are crudely planned, merely using hydrological
data transposed from donor catchments, leaving
uncertainties about project bankability. Mabula Kapi
site located on Kaombe River, in Serenje District for
example was initially investigated using hydrological
data from an adjacent catchment on Lusiwasi River,
which was considered to be hydrologicaly similar.
However, the presence of a natural lake on Lusiwasi
catchment raised uncertainties about the accuracy of the
transposed hydrological data.In this study, satellite
rainfall point data known as the Climate Hazards Group
InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS),
which has adequate time series was adopted as one of the
modeling inputs. Statistical analysis was done to
compare the two data sets and the results indicated a
good correlation. Hydrologic modeling, including
calibration was done using South African open-source
software known as the WRSM2000/PITMAN model and
a 30-year discharge time series was simulated for
Mabula Kapi site. The derived time series were used to
estimate the installed capacity (8 MW) and annual
energy yield (38 GWh) for the hydropower site. It is
recommended that satellite rainfall point data such as
CHIRPS be considered as alternative input data in
hydrologic modelling of poorly gauged hydropower sites
in Zambia. Such data can be useful in extending or
deriving adequate discharge time series, required for
design of water resources infrastructure projects.
Keywords :
CHIRPS, Hydropower, Modelling, Rainfall, Streamflow.
According to estimates from previous energy
studies, Zambia has a hydropower generation potential
of more than 6,000 MW. Development of small
hydropower plants which are widely considered to be
renewable energy technology will help to foster
sustainable development as well as increase access to
electricity in the country. However, most of the small
hydropower potential sites which are located in rural or
remote areas are poorly gauged, lacking adequate
streamflow and/or rainfall data required for
hydropower planning and design. As a result, a number
of sites are crudely planned, merely using hydrological
data transposed from donor catchments, leaving
uncertainties about project bankability. Mabula Kapi
site located on Kaombe River, in Serenje District for
example was initially investigated using hydrological
data from an adjacent catchment on Lusiwasi River,
which was considered to be hydrologicaly similar.
However, the presence of a natural lake on Lusiwasi
catchment raised uncertainties about the accuracy of the
transposed hydrological data.In this study, satellite
rainfall point data known as the Climate Hazards Group
InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS),
which has adequate time series was adopted as one of the
modeling inputs. Statistical analysis was done to
compare the two data sets and the results indicated a
good correlation. Hydrologic modeling, including
calibration was done using South African open-source
software known as the WRSM2000/PITMAN model and
a 30-year discharge time series was simulated for
Mabula Kapi site. The derived time series were used to
estimate the installed capacity (8 MW) and annual
energy yield (38 GWh) for the hydropower site. It is
recommended that satellite rainfall point data such as
CHIRPS be considered as alternative input data in
hydrologic modelling of poorly gauged hydropower sites
in Zambia. Such data can be useful in extending or
deriving adequate discharge time series, required for
design of water resources infrastructure projects.
Keywords :
CHIRPS, Hydropower, Modelling, Rainfall, Streamflow.
