Sources of energy and importance of

Hydropower
• Sources of energy are basically classified into two types:
a) Conventional sources of energy
b) Conventional sources of energy
a) Conventional sources of energy
Those sources of energy that have been is use from the time
immemorial are called conventional sources. E.g.: water,
firewood , nuclear power, coal, natural gas, petroleum, etc.
• They are exhaustible except hydro energy.
• Cause pollution.
• Generation and use involves high expenditure.
• Expensive to maintain, store and transmit
 Sources of energy and importance of
Hydropower
b) Non- conventional sources of energy
Those sources of energy that have been identified in the recent
past and are still in the process of identification are called non-
conventional sources. E.g.: solar energy, wind energy, tidal
energy, geothermal energy, biogas, etc
• They are inexhaustible
• Generally pollution free
• Low expenditure
• Less expensive due to local use and easy maintenance.
 Types of Energy
Renewable sources of energy:
• The sources of energy which are being produced continuously
in nature and are inexhaustible are called renewable sources of
energy (non-conventional energy). They are available in plenty
and by far most the cleanest sources of energy available on this
planet. e.g. solar, wind, tidal hydro etc.
Non-renewable sources of energy:
• A nonrenewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be re-
made or re-grown at a scale comparable to its consumption.
They are called non-renewable because they cannot be
regenerated within a short span of time. Non-renewable sources
exist in the form of fossil fuels, natural gas, oil and coal.
 Sources of Energy
Solar Energy
• Harvests the energy of the sun through using panels
• Can’t be used for national scale
• Only certain geographical ranges of the world get enough of the
direct power of the sun for long enough to generate usable power
from this source.

Wind Energy
• When air moves quickly, in the form of wind, those particles are
moving quickly. (motion means kinetic energy)
• Turbine blades capture wind energy and start moving, they spin a
shaft that leads from the hub of the rotor to a generator. The
generator turns that rotational energy into electricity.
 Sources of Energy
Hydropower:
• Hydropower is power derived from the force of moving water. It
is widely used to produce electricity, among other useful purposes.
• Hydropower is a versatile, flexible technology that at its smallest
can power a single home, and at its largest can supply industry and
the public with renewable electricity on a national and even
regional scale.
Geothermal Energy
• Energy that is produced from beneath the earth
• Hot rocks present below the earth heats up the water that
produces steam.
• The steam is then captured that helps to move turbines. The
rotating turbines then power the generators.
• Can’t be used for national scale
 Sources of Energy
Tidal energy
• Uses rise and fall of tides to convert kinetic energy of incoming
and outgoing tides into electrical energy.
• The generation of energy through tidal power is mostly prevalent
in coastal areas.
• Huge investment and limited availability of sites are few of the
drawbacks of tidal energy.
Nuclear Energy
• Use of nuclear reaction that release nuclear energy to generate
heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to
produce electricity in a nuclear power plant.
• Great subject of debate as to how safe it is to use, and whether or
not it is really energy efficient when you take into account the
waste it produces
 Sources of Energy
Biomass energy
• Produced from organic material and is commonly used
throughout the world
• Generally include crops, plants, trees, yard clippings, wood chips
and animal wastes.
• Used for heating and cooking in homes and as a fuel in industrial
production.
Fossil fuels
• Provide the power for most of the world, primarily using coal and
oil.
• To get to the fossil fuel and convert it to use, there has to be a
heavy destruction and pollution of the environment.
• The fossil fuel reserves are also limited, expecting to last only
another 100 years given the basic rate of consumption.
Global Energy Consumption by Fuel , 2018

Source:Global Energy and CO2 Status Report,2018

Source:Global Energy and CO2 Status Report,2018
Energy Consumption of Nepal
Source: International Hydropower Association, 2019 Key Trends in Hydropower
HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL IN NEPAL
•Theoretical hydropower potential 83, 000 MW
•42,000 MW capacity economically feasible

Upper
Karnali (300)

Budhi Dudh
Gandaki (600) Koshi (300))
Upper
Upper (335),
Tamakoshi (456)
Pancheshwor Arun III (402) &
(6400) Lower Arun (308)

Karnali
Chisapani(10800)
Kali
Gandaki 2(660)
 NEPALESE POWER SYSTEM

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 1182.22 MW

IN GRID 1177.68 MW OFF GRID (HYDRO) 4.54 MW

HYDRO 1124.17 MW SOLAR 0.1 MW THERMAL 53.41 MW

NEA 563.39 MW IPP 560.78 MW

Source: NEA, 2019/20

Source: NEA, 2019/20

Source: NEA, 2019/20

History of hydropower development in Nepal
 In Nepal, the first hydropower plant was established at Pharping
(500 kW) in 1911, 29 years after the world's first plant was
established, during Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher Rana's
time.
 Second hydropower plant with capacity of 900 kW was
established in Sundarijal in 1936.
 Similarly, Morang hydropower company established in 1939,
built 677 kW
 Shikharbas hydro plant at Chisang Khola in 1942. Sadly, it was
destroyed by landslide in the 1960s.
 In 1965, the 2.4 MW Panauti hydropower plant was installed.
 Sunkoshi hydropower of 10 MW installed capacity was erected in
1973 AD with the aid of government of China
 92 MW Kulekhani Hydropower Plant (I and II) commissioned in
1982, is the only project offering seasonal water storage in Nepal.
History of hydropower development in Nepal
 Seti power station of 1.5 MW was built in 1985 with grant
assistance of the government of China.
 60 MW Marsyangdi Power station was built in 1989 with the loan
assistance of Germany, Japan, Kuwait and other multilateral
agencies.
 The biggest hydropower of Nepal; Kaligandaki- A, of capacity
144 MW was commissioned in 2003.
 Karnali- Chisapani, 10,800 MW is the biggest identified
hydropower of Nepal.
Major Hydropower plants in Nepal
ProjectName Capacity(MW) District

Kaligandaki 144 Lamjung

Kulekhani I,II 60+32=92 Makwanpur
Middle Marshyangdi 70 Lamjung
Marshyangdi 69 Lamjung
Khimti 60 Dolakha

Source: NEA, 2019/20

Major Hydropower plants under construction
in Nepal

ProjectName Capacity(MW) District

Upper Tamakoshi 456 Dolakha
Upper Trishuli I 216 Rasuwa
Tanahun 140 Tanahun
Middle Bhotekoshi 102 Sindhupalchok
Rasuwaghadi 111 Rasuwa

Source: NEA, 2019/20

 Classification of Hydropower

• According to availability of head

◦ High head power plants( > 300m)-Pelton turbine is used

◦ Medium head power plants (50-300m)- Francis turbine is used

◦ Low head power plants(<50m) –Kaplan/Francis turbine is used

• According to nature of load
◦ Base load power plants
 Runs continuously throughout the year
 In Nepal, the run of river plant acts as a base load plant.
 In other developed countries, coal and nuclear plants serve as base
load plant

◦ Peak load power plants

 constructed to provide peak load during peak hours of the day and
during peak season
 PRoR projects are designated to supply daily peak loads and storage
project are designated to supply peak load during peak season and
larger peaks during festive and dry periods
 • According to Scheme of Plant
Run-of-river (RoR)
• Produce energy from the available flow
river
• Takes advantage of the natural
elevation drop of the river
• Continuous supply of electricity (base
load)
• Some flexibility of operation for daily
fluctuations in demand
• suitable for rivers that have a minimum
flow all year round or those that are
regulated by a larger dam and reservoir
upstream
• Khimti, Bhotekoshi, Indrawati are RoR
plants
Peaking Run-of-river (PRoR)
• Regulate the daily hydrograph of the
source river
• Can obstruct the flow during the non
peak hours and operates at peak
hours
• Storage capacity is available to store
water only for few hours
• Operates as peaking plant during dry
season and as normal run of river
plant in wet season
• Kaligandaki, Marshyangdi, Middle
Marshyangdi etc are PRoR projects.
Storage (Reservoir)
• Reservoir to store water
behind a dam for times when
river flow is low
• Reservoir is filled in the rainy
season and the water stored
is used gradually over the dry
season depending on the
needs of the system.
• Flow regulation throughout
the year
• Power generation is more
stable and less variable than
for RoR plants
• Kulekhani I, II and III are
storage projects
Pumped storage
• For storing energy
• Water is pumped from a lower
reservoir into an upper reservoir
usually during off peak hours
• In peak hours or in need, stored
water is used for generating
electricity
• Reversible pump turbine is used
• Begnas Rupa Pump Storage
Project (Pokhara) is being
studied in Nepal
• According to nature of operation
◦ Isolated plants
 Not connected to National Grid
 In rural areas, many micro and mini hydropwers are in isloated
system
 Operation is difficult due to huge demand variation

◦ Grid Connected plants

 Connected in grid with several other plants and operated through a
single system
 INPS (Integrated Nepal Power System) has all projects connected in
Nepal. This grid is owned by NEA.
• According to capacity
◦ Large (> 100 MW)
◦ Medium (10 – 100 MW)
◦ Small (1 MW– 10 MW)
◦ Mini (100 – 1 MW)
◦ Micro (5 – 100 kW)
◦ Pico (< 5 kW)

Source: Department of Electricity Development

How Hydropower Works?
• Head (Pressure)
Difference in height or the vertical distance between
the intake and turbine

• Flow (Discharge)
Minimum amount of water that is constantly
available throughout the year
 General Layout
Inlet gate
Air inlet
Surge shaft

Penstock

Tunnel
Sand trap
Trash rack
Self closing valve
Tail water

Main valve
Turbine

Draft tube
Draft tube gate
Major Components
• Water intake: Reservoir, Dam, Spillways, Intakes,
Gates
• Protection: Trash racks, Debris cleaning device, Sand
traps
• Conduits: Canal, Pipes, Tunnels
• Surge tanks, Forebay
• Prime movers (turbines and generators)
• Draft tubes
• Power house and equipment