Stream-Reach Identification for New Run-of-River Hydropower Development through a Merit Matrix–Based Geospatial Algorithm
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 140, Issue 8
Abstract
Even after a century of development, the total hydropower potential from undeveloped rivers is still considered to be abundant in the United States. However, unlike evaluating hydropower potential at existing hydropower plants or nonpowered dams, locating a feasible new hydropower plant involves many unknowns; hence, the total undeveloped potential is harder to quantify. In light of the rapid development of multiple national geospatial data sets for topography, hydrology, and environmental characteristics, a merit matrix–based geospatial algorithm is proposed to identify possible hydropower stream reaches for future development. These hydropower stream reaches—sections of natural streams with suitable head, flow, and slope for possible future development—are identified and compared by using three different scenarios. A case study was conducted in the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint hydrologic subregions. It was found that a merit matrix–based algorithm, which is based on the product of hydraulic head, annual mean flow, and average channel slope, can effectively identify stream reaches with high power density and small surface inundation. These identified stream reaches can then be evaluated for their potential environmental impact, land development cost, and other competing water usage in detailed feasibility studies. Given that the selected data sets are available nationally (at least within the conterminous U.S.), the proposed methodology will have wide applicability across the country.
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Acknowledgments
This research was sponsored by the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Wind and Water Power Technologies Program. Support from California State University–Fresno is also acknowledged. This paper was co-authored by employees of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by UT Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy. Accordingly, the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States government purposes.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 140 • Issue 8 • August 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 2, 2013
Accepted: Dec 26, 2013
Published online: Dec 28, 2013
Published in print: Aug 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Sep 9, 2014
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