Literature Review

As the most reliable renewable energy, hydropower energy is widely used

throughout the world. Hydroelectric power captures the energy released from
falling water. In the most simplistic terms, waterfalls due to gravity, this causes
kinetic energy to be converted into mechanical energy which in turn can be
converted into a useable form of electrical energy by the water turbine and
generator.
Hydroelectric power plants are categorized according to size. They fit into
one of four different size ranges: Micro, Mini, Small, and Large. A Micro sized
plant is one that generates less than 100 kW of electricity and would typically be
used to power 1-2 houses. A Mini facility can serve an isolated community or a
small factory by generating 100kW-1MW of electricity. A Small plant generates
1MW-30MW and can serve an area while supplying electricity to the regional
grid. Lastly, a large facility generates more than 30MW of power.
There have two major types of hydroelectric, impounded type and
diversion type. An impoundment hydroelectric, typically a large hydropower
system, uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir. Water released from the
reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator
to produce electricity. The water may be released either to meet changing
electricity needs or to maintain a constant reservoir level. Its been shown in
picture below the situation of impoundment hydroelectric.

Picture 1: Impoundment Hydroelectric (Source: http://www.alternative-energynews.info/technology/hydro/)

Another common type of hydroelectric is diversion type. This term

sometimes called run of river. This type is usually for a small scale of
hydroelectric. This facility channels a portion of a river through a canal or
penstock. It may not require the use of a dam. The river still can flow as usually,
its only take a small portion of river that come in from intake to run the turbine
and produce the electricity. The picture below showed the schematic diagram of
diversion hydroelectric.

Picture 2: Diversion Hydroelectric

(Source: http://smallhydro.com/small-micro-hydro-info/components-of-asmall-hydropower-system/)

Hydropower is the only renewable energy technology that is commercially

viable on a large scale. It has many advantages compared to disadvantage.
Hydropower is a fuelled by water, so it's a clean fuel source. Hydropower doesn't
pollute the air like power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as coal or natural
gas. Hydropower is a domestic source of energy. Hydropower relies on the water
cycle, which is driven by the sun, thus it's a renewable power
source. Hydropower is generally available as needed which the engineers can
control the flow of water through the turbines to produce electricity on demand.
Hydropower plants provide benefits in addition to clean electricity.
Impoundment hydropower creates reservoirs that offer a variety of recreational
opportunities, notably fishing, swimming, and boating. Most hydropower
installations are required to provide some public access to the reservoir to allow
the public to take advantage of these opportunities. Other benefits may include
water supply and flood control.
Due to advantages, hydroelectric also have their disadvantage. The
disadvantage of hydroelectric is taken serious in order to construct the large
scale of hydroelectric. One of the disadvantages is fish populations can be
impacted if fish cannot migrate upstream past impoundment dams to spawning
grounds or if they cannot migrate downstream to the ocean. Upstream fish
passage can be aided using fish ladders or elevators, or by trapping and hauling
the fish upstream by truck. Downstream fish passage is aided by diverting fish
from turbine intakes using screens or racks or even underwater lights and
sounds, and by maintaining a minimum spill flow past the turbine.
Besides, hydropower can impact water quality and flow. Hydropower
plants can cause low dissolved oxygen levels in the water, a problem that is
harmful to riverbank habitats and is addressed using various aeration
techniques, which oxygenate the water. Maintaining minimum flows of water
downstream of a hydropower installation is also critical for the survival of riparian
habitats.

In Malaysia, hydropower is used for water supply, flood control, irrigation

and recreation purposes. Malaysia has a gross theoretical hydropower potential
of 250 GW, and a technically feasible potential of 123 TWh. The 2,400 MW Bakun
Hydroelectric Project was first approved in 1994. This hydropower project has
dam height 200 m. This hydroelectric is under construction on the Balui River will
include the longest and highest capacity submarine cables in the world to
transmit power generated from Bakun in Sarawak (Borneo) to Peninsula
Malaysia, a distance of 670 kilometres. Three diversion tunnels were completed
in 2001. Bakun will flood 69,000 hectares of farmland, and will result in a more
balanced generation mix. The project will cost an estimated $ 2.4 billion
(HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT WITH A FOCUS ON ASIA AND WESTERN EUROPE).
That is about one of the large scale of hydroelectric in Malaysia. For small
scale hydroelectric in Malaysia, its already started since late 1970s. These are
based on run of river systems ranging from 500 kW to 1000 kW capacity. As
reported by UKM, there are thirty-nine units with a total capacity of 16 MW in
Peninsular Malaysia, seven units with a total capacity of 2.35 MW in Sabah and
five units with a total capacity of 5 MW in Sarawak. Mini-hydro technology is
proven and the in country expertise to build, operate and maintain plants is
sufficient. [http://www.eib.org.my]

CHAPTER 3
POTENTIAL OF HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGY
3.1 Worldwide hydropower technology potential
The International Journal of Hydropower & Dams 2005 and World Atlas &
Industry Guide (IJHD, 2005) probably provides the most comprehensive inventory
of current installed capacity, annual generation, and hydropower potential. The
Atlas provides three measures of hydropower potential: gross theoretical,
technically feasible, and economically feasible all as potential annual generation
(TWh/year). The technically feasible potential values for the six regions of the
world have been chosen for this discussion considering that gross theoretical
potential is of no practical value and what is economically feasible is variable
depending on energy supply and pricing. The total worldwide generation
potential is 14,368 TWh (IJHD, 2005) with a corresponding estimated total
capacity potential of 3,838 MW1 ; five times the current installed capacity. The
generation and capacity potentials for the six world regions are shown in Figure
5.2. Pie charts included in the figure provide a comparison of the capacity
potential to installed capacity for each region and the percentage that the
potential capacity (undeveloped capacity) is of the combination of potential and
installed capacities. These charts illustrate that undeveloped capacity ranges
from about 70 percent in Europe and North America to 95 percent in Africa
indicating large opportunities for hydropower development worldwide.

Figure 3.1: Regional hydropower potential in annual generation and capacity

with comparison of installed and potential capacities including potential capacity
as percent undeveloped (Source: (IJHD, 2005).
There are several notable features of the data in Figure 3.1. North America
and Europe, that have been developing their hydropower resources for more
than a century still have the sufficient potential to double their hydropower
capacity; belying the perception that the hydropower resources in these highly
developed parts of the world are tapped out. Most notably Asia and also Latin
America have outstandingly large potentials and along with Australasia/Oceania
have very large potential hydropower growth factors (450 to almost 800%).
Africa has higher potential than either North America or Europe, which is
understandable considering the comparative states of development. However,
compared to its own state of hydropower development, Africa has the potential
to develop 21 times the amount of hydropower currently installed.
An understanding and appreciation of hydropower potential is best
obtained by considering current total regional installed capacity and annual
generation (2003/2004) (IJHD, 2005) shown in Figure 3.2. The 2005 reported
worldwide total installed hydropower capacity is 746 GW producing a total
annual generation of 2,794 TWh (IJHD, 2005) Figure 5.3 also includes regional
average capacity factors calculated using regional total installed capacity and
annual generation capacity factor = generation/(capacity x 8760hrs).