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Micro/Mini  hydro resource potentials  in Bangladesh : 

 

Bangladesh is a riverine country with three main rivers (1) Ganges (2) Brahmaputra and (3) Jamuna. About 1.4 trillion cubic meter (m' ) of water flows through the country in an average water year. Numerous rivers flow across the country which are mostly tributaries of these main rivers. Out of these, 57 rivers are Transboundary which originate from India and Myanmar. Apart from the south-eastern region, other parts of the country are mostly flat in nature. Major rivers of the country have high flow rate for about 5 to 6 months during monsoon season, which is substantially reduced during winter. More than 90% of Bangladesh s rivers originates outside the country, due to which proper planning of water resource s is difficult without neighboring countries cooperation. Downstream water sharing with India is a highly contentious issue in Bangladesh.

 Rainfall Pattern :

In Bangladesh, the annual average rainfall is about 2,300 mm, which varies from 1,200 mm in the north –west to 5,800 mm in the north-east. Most of the rainfall (80 %) occurs during the months of May/June to September/October.

 Types of Rivers :

In Bangladesh, there are three types of rivers : 

  1.  Major and medium size perennial rivers with most of the catchment area outside the national border

  2.  Medium and small size seasonal internal rivers mainly tributaries and distributaries of the main rivers and

  3.  Small and medium both perennial and seasonal border rivers

Medium and Large Hydro Potential : 

At present only 230 MW of hydro power is utilized in Karnafuli Hydro Station, which the only hydro-electric power plant operated by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). BPDB is considering extension of Karnafuli Hydro Station to add another 100 MW capacity. The additional energy will be generated during the rainy season when most of the year water is spilled. Apart from Kaptai, two other prospective sites for hydro power generation at Sangu and Matamuhuri river are identified by BPDB. Brief description of these two sites is given below. 

  • Sangu Project :

This would be a new Project with an annual energy of about 300 GWh per year. For an installed capacity of 140 MW, the annual plant factor is 23%, and it is estimated that the plant would operate in peaking mode. However, this project needs a detailed environmental, social and economic study in the present context. 

  • Matamuhuri Project :

The Matamuhuri development would be a new project of capacity 75 MW and an approximate average annual energy 200 GWh per year.

 

Small Hydro Potential :  

Several attempts have been made in the past to find out the potential of s mall-hydro power generation which is believed to be more environment or ecology friendly in comparison to large hydro with dams. Some of the previous studies at different parts of the country are described in the following headings. 

 

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BPDB/BWDB Joint Study in the early eighties   :                      

To explore the possibility of hydropower from small hilly rivers/streams in the country, a working committee was constituted on February 1981 with officers from Water Development Board (BWDB) and BPDB. The committee explored 19 prospective sites for possible installation of small hydro power plant s. The finding of the committee is summarized in Table above.  Later in the month of April 1984 a group of Chinese experts visited Bangladesh and identified 12 prospective sites in the hilly areas of Bangladesh. Out of those 12 sites, Mahamaya Chara, near Mirersharai, close to Dhaka-Chittagong highway was identified as the best site for development of small hydro. Accordingly BWDB is considering to develop a multipurpose project at Mahamaya Chara. It has been found out from the feasibility study that generation of electricity is possible throughout the year except in the month of April and May (see Table below) and a small Hydro Power plant shall be installed at the down stream foot of the proposed dam for the generation of electricity.

 

 

District

Name River/Chara/Stream

Potential of Electrical Energy in KW

Chittagong

1.   Fiaz lake

4

Chittagong

2.   Chota Kumira

15

Chittagong

3.   Hinguli Chara

12

Chittagong Hill Tracts

4.   Sealock

81

Chittagong

5.   Lungichara

10

Chittagong

6.   Budiachara

10

Sylhet

7.   Nikhari Chara

26

Sylhet

8.   Madhb Chara1500ft. from fall

78

Sylhet

9.   Ranga pani Gung

616

Jamalpur

10. Bhugai-Kongsa at 2 miles     U/S. of Nalitabari P.S

69Kw for 10 months

48 Kw for 2 months

Jamalpur

11. Marisi at Dukabad near  Jhinaigati Thana Head Quarter

35Kw for 10 months

20 Kw for 2 months

Dinajpur

12. Dahuk at Burabari

24

 

13. Chawai at U/S. of Chawai L.L.P

32

 

14. Talam at U/S. of Talam L.L.P

24

 

15. Pathraj at Fulbari

32

 

16. Tangon at D/S of Nargun L.L.P

48

 

17. Punarbhaba at Singraban

11

Rangpur

18. Buri Khora Chikli at Nizbari

32

 

19. Fulkumar at Raiganj Bazar

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average monthly fowl head at Mahamaya (BWDB, 1999)

 

Month

Flow

(meter)

Head

(meter)

Jan.

5.8

11.4

Feb.

4.9

9.9

March

5.4

8.1

Apr.

 5.1

5.3

May

2.2

4.3

June

2.0

7.8

July

2.0

10.8

Aug

2.0

 13.3

Sep

2.0

 14.0

Oct.

2.1

14.0

Nov.

2.6

13.7

Dec.

3.8

13.0

 

Flood Action Plan (FAP):                                            

In 1992 under the Flood Action Plan, Northeast Regional Water Management Project (FAP -6) conducted a preliminary assessment of selected rivers in the Northeast Region. The finding for the most promising rivers and sites shows that they are suitable for development of run-off-river low head schemes. However, to obtain the required head for generating power a weir or barrage need to be constructed across the river channel. The identified site, along with the flow data, are listed in Table 4.3. Based on mean monthly discharges and an assumed 5m head the hydro potential of the 10 major and medium perennial rivers of the Northeast Region is estimated as 161MW, with an annual energy production of about 1410 GWh. These are perennial rivers with sufficient flow for power generation throughout the year [Werszko 1999].

 

Values of monthly discharges at representative sites in Major and medium size rivers in northwest region of Bangladesh (Werszko 1999).

 

Name of River and Site

Average Yea
 

Min

Mean

Max

Meghalaya Group

Kangsha at Jariajanjail

16.7

274.3

 738.5

Sari-gowain at Sarighat

6.4

128.2

381.9

Barak Group

      

Surma at Kanairghat

6.4

524.4

1429.3

Surma at Sylhet

7.8

545.0

1470.1

Kushiyara at Sheola

80.8

660.0

  1610.0

Sonai-Bardal at Jaldhup

7.2

138.8

331.6

Tripura Group

      

Manu at Manu River Barage

10.4

83.7

182.2

Brahmaputra Group

      

Old Brahmaputra at Mymensingh

19.4

704.9

 2055.5

Lakhya at Demra

38.8

692.3

 1750.9

Old Brahmaputra at Bhairab Bazar

4.3

123.3

452.5

There are also rivers which carry high discharges during the monsoon season and very small during the dry season. They have relatively high longitudinal slope across alluvial fans close to the Indian border. Most of the rivers have little flow in the winter months and sometimes they dry out completely. The suitable scheme would include diversion structure across the river channel, diversion channel along the ridge and the powerhouse at a suitable location that offers sufficient head. 9 rivers were identified in the study. The mean monthly power distribution from these rivers is given in Table 4.4. The potential annual power output of these rivers is estimated at 35MW and the annual energy pr oduction at 307 GWh. The above mentioned power potential analysis is based on mean monthly flows and the results may be on an optimistic side. More dependable flow data (90% or 95% daily flows commonly used) would produce lower figures. However , taking into account the purpose of the hydropower generation in Bangladesh these criteria would need to be studied in detail [Werszko 1999].

Hydropower Potential in Meghalaya Rivers of Northeast Region (MW) :

River

 Site

Catchment Area

(km2)

Estimated Annual Output

     

MW

GWH

Someswari

Dugapur

2134

  5

43

Jadukata

Saktiakhola

2513

13

115

Jhalukhali

Dalura

448

5

45

Sarigoyain

Lalakhal TG

802

  3

30

Lubha

Mugulgul

724

 3

27

Dhalai

Khalasadaq

 342

2

15

Umium

Chalelhnapur

518

 2

 20

Bhugai

Hatipagar

453

1

6

Darang

Ghosegaon

381

 1

 6
   

Total

35

307

 

Tista Barrage Project :                                                                       

Tista Barrage located in the North-Western part of the country. It is the largest irrigation project of the country. There are at least nineteen potential sites of hydropower generation in the Teesta Barrage Project having 10 sites with more than 2 meter head. The construction of these regulating structures have been completed and most of them are in operation. These sites can be investigated for development of small hydro projects. The prospective sites at Tista Barrage is shown in Table :

Prospective potential sites in the Teesta Barrage for small hydro power generation [ BWDB, 2002]

Sl

Regulating Structure (number)

Discharge

(m3 /sec.)

Water level

Head

(meter)

Upstream (m)

Downstream (m)

A.

Teesta Canal

1.

R3T

154.6

47.9

45.8

2.1

B

Rangpur Canal

1.

R2R

73.1

43.1

40.9

 2.2

2.

R4R

53.5

38.9

36.8

2.1

3.

R5R

45.2

36.2

34.1

C.

Bogra Canal

1.

S1B (L)

1.4

43.3

40.5

2.7

2.

R1S2B

0.7

41.9

 39.3

2.6

3.

R1S3B

4.0

41.6

38.6

3.0

4.

R1S4B

1.0

41.5

38.3

3.3

5.

R1S5B

2.1

41.5

37.5

4.1

6.

R3B

73.6

41.3

38.7

2.6

 

Feasibility Study on R & D on Renewable Energy by IFRD, BCSIR :               

Recently a project on "Feasibility Study on R&D of Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Micro-Mini Hydro)" has been undertaken by the Institute of Fuel Research Development (IFRD) of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR).

 

Various data are collected through the related instruments regarding the Micro-Mini Hydro Study at two selected places of (1) Shailopropat, Banderban and (2) Madhobkundu, Moulibhibazar. The collected data and information are analysed on various aspects at RET laboratory of IFRD. On the basis of analysis of collected data upto June, 2001, it is expected that 5 to 10 kW capacity Micro Hydro power plant at Sailipropat, Banderban and 10 to 20 kW capacity Micro Hydro Power Plant at Madhobkundu, Moulibhibazar can be installed for electricity generation.

Summary of different measurements and calculations for small hydro power generation are shown in Table

Summary on Micro Hydro Power Generation in Hilly Districts [IFRD, 2002]

Name of Water

Falls

Average

Discharge

Approximate

Duration of Flow

Probable Fall for

Hydro Power

Generation

Electrical

Power