Sustainable Hydropower: Harnessing Renewable Energy for the Future

1. Water: Sustainable and Renewable Power Gregory Morris PhD, PE gmorris@glmengineers.com 939-644-5041 Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing Denver, 10 November, 2016

2. Sustainable / Renewable Energy Hall, Charles A.S., Jessica G. Lambert, and Stephen B. Balogh. 2014. “EROI of Different Fuels and the Implications for Society.” Energy Policy 64 (January): 141–52. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2013.05.049. Ferroni, Ferruccio, and Robert J. Hopkirk. 2016. “Energy Return on Energy Invested (ERoEI) for Photovoltaic Solar Systems in Regions of Moderate Insolation.” Energy Policy 94 (July): 336–44. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2016.03.034.

3. 9 MW hydro plantLa Oroya, Peru Operating >100 years on original equipment

4. Run-of-River hydropowerno storage (except daily peaking) Capacity Factor = actual annual energy production divided by theoretical production for continuous operation at design power.

5. Monsoon hydrograph – typical throughout Himalayan region

6. Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry (before construction of Glenn Canyon dam)

7. Hydrographs from humid climates are more irregular (Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, PA)

8. Adjust RoR plant design to achieve most economical capacity factor(Río Magunchal, upper Amazon, Peru)

9. Run-of-River hydropower:Adjusting design capacity will change Capacity Factor

10. Sustainable / Renewable Energy Capacity Factor = actual annual energy production divided by theoretical production for continuous operation at design power.

11. To average 240 MWh/day of Energy requires: • 10 MW @ 100% capacity factor (technically infeasible) • 11 MW @ 92% capacity factor (2015 avg., USA nuclear) • 13 MW @ 75% capacity factor (RoR hydro, Peruvian Amazon) • 20 MW @ 50% capacity factor (wind, hydro) • 67 MW @ 15% capacity factor (solar PV)

12. With even limited storage, hydropower can guarantee delivery during peak demand, when solar PV and wind cannot.

13. Conowingo RoR hydro dam with daily peaking storage (Susquehanna River) 548 MW, 36% capacity factor

14. Daily storage at RoR Peaking Power plant(548 MW Conowingo HPP)

15. Hydropower as an Investment…1 • High capital cost: typically ≈$2million/MW • Potentially longer permitting and construction period • Long equipment life: >50 yrs • Sediment management is a critical issue here • High capacity factor is feasible (>50%) • Can match plant capacity to hydrology to achieve high capacity factor • Multiple factors determine optimum capacity

16. Hydropower as an Investment …2 • Small hydro is not subject to dispatch control • “Small” hydro (<20 MW) can typically dispatch all energy that can be produced • Most investment opportunities are in developing countries. Concession terms vary by country: • Nepal: typically about 30 years • Peru: concession does not expire

17. Gregory L. MorrisPE Phdgmorris@glmengineers.comwww.glmengineers.com939-644-5041 If you are deeply interested in reservoirs and their long-term sustainability, this technical resource is Freely Available on the Internet in PDF format PDF of 748 page book Reservoir Sedimentation Handbook McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York www.reservoirsedimentation.com