Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess and rank the feasible sites of a Micro/mini hydro power plants in Fetam River to meet domestic load of the rural community detached from national grid around the Fetam River. There are two types of data used in this thesis paper. Primary data which were collected during the reconnaissance survey in the site by measuring by available equipment and by interviewing of the local people. The second type of data was secondary data which were found from concerned governmental institutions, related literatures and different websites.
In order to identify the potential sites first I asked the stake holders who found in Guagusa shikudad and Womberima wereda and I found the natural water falls. Head of the selected sites were measured using hand held GPS which had +2.5m checked accuracy by differential GPS which had accuracy of 0.012m.
GIS software was used in this thesis in order to map the potential sites, to identify location of the beneficiary communities, to identify river length, geological and topographical alignment of the river and the catchment. The HOMER simulation program developed by the NREL has been used for the isolated MHP system. In the remote and inaccessible part of the study area Google earth has been used to observe the potential sites.
The result of this study showed that there are 25 potential sites to develop micro hydropower plants. Among the assessed micro hydropower potential sites only 10 potential sites are near the communities (villagers).The remained 15 potential sites are found very far away from the communities and they are not accessible. The assessed sites have installed capacity from 18.1kw-967kw.
I want to conclude that the selected sites have more potential than the demand of the selected sites. I recommend that other researchers can assess other form energy such as pump MHP or poundage in order to wide up electricity of the villagers.