Development of an evaluation procedure and tool for hydropower potential determination at South African dams

Abstract

South Africa is in a critical power situation and is in dire need of additional generation capacity. Thus, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower should be evaluated to identify high potential and cost-effective sites. South Africa, being a water-scarce country, is already heavily dammed, meaning there are no more suitable new sites for conventional hydropower generation. Instead, novel solutions such as retrofitting hydropower installations to existing infrastructure, such as at existing dams, is required. During the study a procedure and tool that can evaluate hydropower potential at South African dams, was developed. By applying the procedure to 118 DWS operated dams it was found that there is indeed retrofit hydropower potential at South African dams, with a total estimated hydropower potential of 122 MW with an annual energy output of between 393 and 479 GWh.