Method for defining hydro projects Al possible hydroelectric developments in the country ‘were identified in a systematic form and the details formed incorporated in an inventory. Existing projects and schemes ‘were included in this inventory, and were treated according to the same technical procedure as the new projects so that they could be compared on an equal basis. The investiga- tions were generally limited to developments with a gross ‘mean potential of not less than 10 MW. In the selection ‘of the projects to be studied in the second phase of the plan, the projects with less than 10 MW were only con- sidered if they were a prerequisite for the eventual con- struction of larger-capacity projects farther downstream. For the reasons given, those river systems having a total theoretical potential, based on a mean flow, of less than 10 MW were eliminated. Similarly, those rivers or tribu- aries with a theoretical potential totalling less than 10 MW were considered for eventual inter-basin transfer guy if dhe mean flow at te iver mouth was at leat mis, Starting with the principal rivers, all possible hydro- electric projects. were defined in those reaches having a ‘mean flow greater than 3 m/s, and a specific theoretical potential of not less than 2 MW/km. A similar procedure ‘was followed with the tributaries, always considering the possibilities for eventual transfers within the river system. Finally, possible transfers between basins were investi- gated, to ageregate the flows of neighbouring rivers and to ‘concentrate the potential at a limited number of sites. Special attention was given to the formulation of other technical options to guarantee the identification of the best ‘configuration amongst the basic projecis. The definition of the projects was carried out in the office by a group of civil engineers, hydrologists and geologists assigned to the plan. Each possible project site defined in the initial phase of the work was visited by a group of geologists experienced in the construction of hydroelectric. projects, who in- spected the possibilities for storage, the topographic and geological conditions, convenience of access, and, in some ‘cases, adapted the schemes int accordance with actual site conditions ‘AS a result of the office and field work, an inventory ‘covering all technically attractive projects was compiled including a definition of the project components and principal parameters. Tn each case, eventual dependencies on or incompatibili- ties with other projects were indicated, The basic technical Parameters determined for each project from desk and eld work, upon which the detailed technical dimensioning and cost estimates were performed using the subsequent computer program, EVAL, were the following © gross head; ‘mean flow; lesign flood flow; type of dam (earthfill, rockfil, concrete gravity, arch or diversion dam); @ basic characteristics of large dam (maximum height, test length and permeability factor for the determination of the cost of watertight curtains); @ basic characteristics of small dam (height, length, ‘permeability factor, length of spillway, length of intake); @ reservoir characteristics (active volume and area of inundated land classified according to five categories of expropriation costs); fe characteristics of diversion, transfer and spillway tunnels (length and geological characteristics classified in three categories); © characteristics of surge tanks (underground, buried or open chamber, with geological characteristics classified according to three categories); © characteristics of penstock (buried or overground), Jength, maximum intake and outlet pressure, and geologi- cal characteristics); ‘@ characteristics of pressure shafts (length, maximum upstream and downstream pressure and geological char- acteristics); @ spillway characteristics (concrete dam without discharge channel or rock excavation, with length of channel and ‘geological characteristics); (© characteristics of submerged intakes; hharacteristies of powerhouse (outdoor, underground or within dam); © characteristics of transmission systems (load, length, topography and accessibility classified according to three types; and @ road and railway characteristics. In addition to this information, a special report was in- cluded to take account of special costs not included in these headings, such as permeability of dam, and slope stabili- zation requirements, ‘Haying defined the principal technical parameters, all projects were evaluated in detail using the computer Program EVAL. This was developed especially for the study to assess a large number of projects with associated alternatives and variations. Within the program EVAL, all technical data and costs, required to give a clear definition of the project are deiermined as a function of the input parameters, In addition, economic comparison factors are calculated for each project which allow the classification and deter- ‘mination of the best projects in a simple and rapid ma net, and with a sufficient degree of precision for initial planning purposes. The program EVAL calculates the {otal cost for each project as the sum of the component cost for the various elements which are dimensioned in accordance with the basic input data. The following components are specifically considered in the program: dams; land to be expropriated; diversions, transfer and spillway tunnels; diversion, transfer and spillway channels; penstocks with butterfly valves; surge tanks; intake and traps; pressure shafts with butterfly valves; powerhouses with turbines; generators; trans- formers; electrical controls; travelling cranes; sub stations; emergency gates; spherical valves; spillways with radial gates; transmission lines; roads and railways. ‘The model includes a partial optimization for each possibility, to determine the optimum values for the installed capacity. For this purpose, three categories were established as a function ofthe plant factor; peak plans ‘up to 0-30; medium load plants between 0-30 and 0:50; and base piants between 0-50 and 1-00. The program automatically established 15 variations for each option for the project, which are distinguished exclusively by the installed capacity and plant factor. With this variation of installed capacity, corresponding values for firm and non-firm energy are deduced. The results of this partial optimization is the selection of the best variant in each of the three plant factor categories. Theoretical hydro potential The theoretical hydropower potential of Guatemala was determined based on surface rainfall potential, surface runoff potential and gross linear potential, ‘The last and ‘most significant of these is measured along the river Jength and was determined for all rivers in each basin or the country. The gross linear or gross river potential was calculated on the basis of multi-annual mean discharge, and for the discharge exceeded 50 per cent and 95 per ‘cent of time. The following summary of the theoretical potential determined gives values for the whole of Guatemala, but