Hydropower potential of municipal water supply schemes in Osun State: Case

study of

IG Ayinde

Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan,Ibadan.

ABSTRAT

Continuous increase in energy demand has been tied to population increase and improved economic
well-being of the people. As the world’s population continues to grow geometrically, energy supply has
been a major concern, especially, since the last two decades. Nigeria is no exception to this and it’s even
worse affected, because of its lack of adequate planning for its teeming population. From the present
predicament of the country, it is obvious that other sources of energy generation mostly renewable -
hydro-electric, solar, and wind which are more reliable and environmental friendly be explored as the
dependency on the generated power using fossil fuel to the national grid has not helped in anyway.
Hence, the need to explore other power alternatives, especially the renewables one. This study was
therefore designed to investigate the potential of municipal water supply schemes in Osun State as a
means of developing small hydropower plant using Asejire dam as a case study. Field survey was
conducted through which key information about Asejire dam was obtained. The dam gives a conversion
advantage with its water flow rate ranging between 6.4m3/s and 14.56m3/s based on the season of the
year and also a height (head) above ground level of 20m. The collected field parameters were utilised in
the standard hydropower equations. The results obtained from the analysis gives a theoretical all year
round of 3.1MW of electrical power. Comparing this result with the minimum power demand of 2.1MW
and maximum power demand of 3.7MW of the inhabitants of the Asejire town, the Asejire dam services,
Ede water works and some residential building at Ede water works, would require a two daily operations
whereby the load are carefully selected on 12 hourly bases (Day and Night). This study has thus
established the potential and viability of the construction of a small hydropower (SHP) on Asejire dam
which will improve the town’s commercial and industrial enterprise; hence, this project is recommended
for construction.