Development of evaluation framework for the selection of run-of-river hydropower potential sites to be included in the Zambian Hydropower Atlas

Abstract

Hydropower is a source of renewable energy, which provides clean electricity around the world with lower greenhouse gas emissions than other sources of energy. Zambia's electricity deficit has been increasing in recent years. As of 2019, over 1.9 million households (57.6%) had no access to electricity and over 96% of the rural population are still without electricity. This calls for attention and sustainable solutions to electrification as reinforced by goal number 7 of the sustainable development goals. Such solutions include the development of a Zambian Hydropower Atlas that can showcase the country's hydropower potential including small-scale technologies, which can boost Zambia's electrification by providing green electricity. The aim of this study was to develop a run-of-river evaluation framework for the selection of hydropower potential sites to be included in the Zambian Hydropower Atlas. The data and formulas required to evaluate hydropower potential were identified and evaluated to develop the evaluation process in the Zambian context. The developed evaluation framework was applied to an existing run-of-river hydropower site located in Zambia to show its application, and it estimated the hydropower potential at the site within a deviation of 14%. The developed evaluation framework can give a first-order evaluation of hydropower potential.