Design Optimization for Harnessing Low-Head Hydropower Potential Towards Socioeconomic Uplift

Energy is the primary feature for the development and economic growth of a country like Pakistan. Power potential at present, available at canal falls and barrages in Pakistan is approximately 5895 MW which requires harnessing in order to meet growing energy demand. Based on the hydraulic and hydrologic parameters of the Marala Ravi link canal, optimizations of energy and power have been carried out. Two scenarios are prepared concerning upstream water levels, i.e., maintaining constant full supply level (FSL) throughout the year and using actual observed water levels. In this study, a new parameter of inverse incremental energy is used for discharge optimization. The optimization of discharge, installed capacity and average annual energy by applying constant FSL on upstream of power house are 420 m3/s, 10.6 MW and 36.60 GWh, respectively, for first scenario and those are 395 m3/s, 6.36 MW and 27.30 GWh, respectively, for second scenario. Economic internal rate of return (EIRR) for two horizontal Kaplan pit-type turbines is 18.83% for first case and 15.32% for second case, thus showing improvement with first scenario.