[Ramana, 2(5): May, 2013] ISSN: 2277-9655

IJESRT
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES & RESEARCH
TECHNOLOGY
Identification of Suitable Locations for Mini Hydal Power Plants Using Geomatics
Dr. G.Venkata Ramana
Professor & HOD, Civil Engineering Department, GRIET, Hyderabad, India
ramanagedela@gmail.com
Abstract
Power is a very important infrastructure of the overall development of a nation. It is the basic input for the
industrial and economic growth of the country. Hydropower is a key energy resource for power generation. India is
blessed with immense amount of hydro-electric potential. The natural topography of the country like India, with
large number of rivers and streams provides excellent opportunities to harness the energy stored in flowing waters.
In 1998, Government of India announced "Policy on Hydro Power Development" under which impetus is given to
development of hydropower in the country. This was a welcome step towards effective utilization of our water
resources in the direction of hydropower development.
The Optimum utilization of water resources plays a vital role in the development of country’s economy. India is well
endowed with rainfall and is one of the wettest countries in the world with annual precipitation estimated to be
around 400 millions hectare-meters.
All the power generation projects have to be justified from the point of view of power requirement, technical
feasibility, economic justification and environmental impact.

Introduction
Hydro Power: Hydro power is energy that comes 2. To prepare the longitudinal profile
from the force of moving water. with elevation, latitude and longitude
Geomatics: Geomatics is a field of activities which, data base.
using a systemic approach, integrates all the means 3. To identify suitable locations for small
used to acquire and manage spatial data required as hydropower plants using Geomatics.
part of scientific, administrative, legal and technical In the present study, various GIS and
operations involved in the process of the production Remote sensing (RS) techniques are used for
and management of spatial information. Geomatics is identifying the suitable locations for small
the modern scientific term referring to the integrated hydropower stations along the major distributory D-
approach of measurement, analysis, management, 83 canal, of Kakatiya main canal i.e. Sriramsagar
storage and display of the descriptions and location right bank canal system on Godavari river basin,
of earth-based data, often termed spatial data. The Andhra Pradesh, India,
advantages of GIS system is that, it is a systematical The work involves the use of Remote
storage of existing data, integration of factors such as sensing and GIS through generation of thematic
elevation data, stream network, rainfall data, maps. The task of suitable site identification for small
electricity grid, forest and other reservations with the hydropower stations is done by integrating multi-
system, enabling suitability analysis through source geo-referenced data sets in a GIS platform.
applications of multi-criteria overlay techniques. The final output comprises the identification various
Objectives of the study: locations of sites suitable for hydropower generation
To meet the above requirements, this study is which will go a long way in quick and scientifically
undertaken with the following objectives. based decision making process.
1. To prepare various maps such as
Mandal and Village boundaries map, Study Area
Contour and Digital Elevation Model Andhra Pradesh is one of States of India. D-
(DEM) map, Satellite image map, 83, a major distributor, constructed during the year
Base map, Soil map, Land use Land 1973-1983, takes off from main canal at km 116.
cover map and Drainage map in GIS Project falls in the region of Godavari river basin
environment. area. The distributory has a discharge capacity of 75
cumecs, at its off take and benefits the area of 1,

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[Ramana, 2(5): May, 2013] ISSN: 2277-9655

64,000 Ha, through the minors constructed at and Self Scanning Sensor (LISS – IV) with a
required locations. resolution of 23.5m as shown in Fig 2.
The distributor also provides water supply Soil map: The soil maps were collected from
through a minor distributory at km 35.774 for Ultra National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use,
Thermal Power plant of N.T.P.C located at Nagpur which were prepared on a scale of 1:50,000.
Ramgundam town. The D-83 distributor receives The collected soil maps are scanned and registered
water from Kakatiya Canal, which a right bank main with tic points and rectified. Further, the rectified
canal drawing water from dam on river Godavari to maps are projected. All individual projected maps are
meet irrigation demand. The total length of D-83 finally merged as a single layer, later, the delineated
canal is 44.075 kms takes off from main canal and study area map of D- 83 canal is overlaid on
finally joining in Gundaram reservoir. The canal projected soil map and finally, soil map pertaining to
providing Irrigation facilities through the minors the study area was thus extracted in GIS
constructed, to the villages of Ravalli, environment. Boundaries of different soil textures are
Beerumrajupalli, Ragampet, Mallampur, digitized in ARC/INFO and the polygons
Lambadipally, Kummarikunta, Turka maddikunta, representing soil classes are assigned different
Gollapally, Kachapur, Rangapur, Sabbitam of colours for reorganization of hydrologic soil groups.
Choppadandi, Dharmaram, Julapalle and Peddapally Fig .3 depicts the classification of soils in each sub
mandals of Karimnagar district. area.
Location map of the study area: The study area is Base map: Base map with road net work, settlements
falling in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, and tanks within the buffer are generated in GIS
India. The location map of the study area has been environment. Drainage map with streams and tanks
prepared from administrative boundary map of India, within the buffer are generated in GIS environment.
Andhra Pradesh and Karimnagar district as shown in Soil map with type of soils within the buffer are
Fig. 1. generated in GIS environment as shown in Fig 4.
The water flow is available in the canal for a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) map: Contours
period of 10 months in a year i.e from July to April to are polylines that connect points of equal value of
provide water for Khariff and Rubby crop seasons. elevation. The elevation points are prepared from
The canal is lined on bottom and both side slopes up toposheets 56 N/2 and 56 N/6 on a scale of 1:50,000
to 1 m height above of Full Supply Depth (FSD) collected from Survey of India (SOI), Hyderabad.
with cement concrete of 75 mm thick of M10 grade The collected topo sheets are scanned and registered
with a bed width of 16 m at bottom and 28 m at top with tic points and rectified. Further, the rectified
and with side slopes of 2:1. Full supply depth of the maps are projected. All individual projected maps
canal is 2.70 m with a bed fall ranging from 1 in were finally merged as a single layer. The contours
7000 to 1 in 8000.The irrigation on D-83 Canal is yet are digitized with an interval of 2 m. The contour
to be fully established and study shows that inflows attribute table contains an elevation attribute for each
in canal have increasing. The capacity of Canal is contour polylines. The contour map was prepared
about 75 cumecs, but present only about 55 to 45 using Arc map of Arc GIS 9.1 and shown in Fig 5.
cumecs are released. With time, inflow may get Contour map is a useful surface representation
established on higher side. because they enable to simultaneously visualize flat
and steep areas, ridges, valleys in the study area.
Methodology Land use / Land cover map: Spatial data in the
The topographic maps are used namely 56 form of satellite imageries for the preparation of
N/2 and 56 N/6 on a scale of 1:50,000 were collected Land Use/Land Cover details at sub basin level are
from Survey of India (SOI), Uppal, Hyderabad for procured from National Remote Sensing Centre
the delineation of study area of canal path.The (NRSC). These satellite imageries for both Khariff
collected topographic sheets were scanned and and Rabi seasons for two years pertain to Indian
registered with tic points and rectified in Arc map of Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) –P6, Linear Imaging
Arc GIS 9.3. Further, the rectified maps were and Self Scanning Sensor (LISS –IV) with a
projected and merged together as a single layer. The resolution of 23.5m.
study area of canal path was delineated in GIS The collected satellite image is geo
environment. referenced in ERDAS 8.7 then rectified and finally
Satellite image map of study area: the Satellite projected. The delineated study area in vector form is
image map of the study area has been prepared by overlaid on projected satellite imagery to get sub set
overlapping the study area with image of Indian of the study area. Normalized Difference Vegetation
Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) – P6, Linear Imaging Index (NDVI) was employed as the basis for Land
Use / Land Cover classification. This method of
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[Ramana, 2(5): May, 2013] ISSN: 2277-9655

classification has been found to be suitable for the along the total length of the canal with available
study area i.e., D-83 Canal as the data used is discharge and also shown in the graphical
pertaining to the past period i.e., years 2000 and 2002 representation, taking Location vs Power generation
and also the study area is considerably large capacities in Fig. 9.
comprising predominantly of fertile lands as shown
in Fig 6. Land use and land cover map with head
locations are represented in Fig. 7.0
Power generation capacity: Power generation
capacities have been calculated by using Power
equation P (kWh) = Head x Discharge x gravity of
flow at each head location of the total length of the
canal considering discharge available at that
particular head location. Fig. 1 : Study area

Results & Discussions

Identification of suitable locations for small hydro
power plants using Geomatics
Analysis to select suitable locations for
small hydro power plants along the D-83 branch
canal has been elaborated and discussed in this
section. Amount of head and discharge calculations
are required for hydro power plants. Discharge and Fig. 2 Study area on Satellite imagery
head are deciding factors for power generation output
calculations. Based on head available, the amount of
power generation is calculated in Kilo watt hour
(kWh).
The canal path is digitized by using Arc GIS
9.2 version and the path is converted to image by
using RS image. A buffer of 1 km on either side of
canal is created. Contours of 2m interval are
generated using Arc GIS 9.2 version. Soil group
particulars map, Drainage map, Base map are Fig. 3 Soil Map
generated.
Longitudinal profile of canal: The canal location
and alignment is identified on the Google Earth and
longitudinal profile of the canal with elevation,
latitude and longitude at every 50 m intervals is
found for total length of the canal and also shown in
Fig. 8, the graphical representation as chainage vs
canal longitudinal profile
Power generation capacity calculations at
identified locations: Power generation capacities are Fig.4 Base Map
calculated by using power equation at each head
location of the total length of the canal considering
discharge available at that particular head location
and gravity of flow is taken as 9.81 m/sec: Thus the
power generation capacity is calculated by using
Power equation P (kWh) = Head x Discharge x
gravity of flow, at location of km 9.488 with
available head of 3.048 m and available theoretical Fig 4.8 Digital Elevation Model (DEM) map of D-83 Branch canal
28

discharge of 59.00 cumecs and the capacity found is Fig.5 DEM Map
1,764 kWh. Based on above power calculations small
hydropower plants can be proposed with installation
capacity of 1,764 kWh. In the similar manner the
power generation is calculated at each head location

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[Ramana, 2(5): May, 2013] ISSN: 2277-9655

From the longitudinal profile data base for 2.

the total length of the canal at every 50 m
interval prepared, using Remote sensing
technique, 26 locations have been identified
along the total length of the D-83 canal and
the heads are found to be 1.219m head at 4
locations, 1.829m head at 9 locations,
2.438m head at 6 locations, 3.048m heads at
4 locations and 3.657m heads at 3 locations.
3. Soil map with type of soils groups present
Fig.6 Land Use/ Land Cover Map within the buffer has been generated in GIS
environment. The soil groups at all
identified head locations have been studied
with help of soil map. The predominant soil
group has been found to be Very fine loamy
skeletal with 40.799 sq.kms area with 44.92
% of the total area and the least coverage of
soil group is found to be Fine calcareous
with 0.223 sq. km with 0.25% of the total
area.
4. Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) map of
Fig. 7 Land Use/ Land Cover Map With Head the canal buffer area with details of lands of
locations agriculture, forest, built up, waste lands, and
water bodies present has generated in GIS
350.000 environment. The predominant land use land
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF LONGITUDINAL PROFILE OF OF D-83 CANAL
293.300
291.917
291.769
288.835
286.847
283.888
280.875
280.751
278.220
275.600

cover has been found to be Agricultural land

272.089
267.474
263.975
260.968
258.542
255.170

300.000
253.649
252.137
252.022

250.991
249.386

247.029
246.601
245.371

244.697
243.501

240.594
239.737
CANAL ELEVATION (m)

234.749
229.953
226.555
226.870
226.106

with 76.24 sq. km area with 83.95 % of the

224.157
220.688
217.355

216.556
216.431

214.552
209.785

250.000
203.909
197.415
195.163
193.294
193.000

200.000 total area and the least land use land cover
150.000 has been found to be Forest area with 1.95
100.000 sq. km with 2.15 % of the total area. The
50.000 Built up area is found to be with 2.98 sq.kms
0.000 area with 3.28% of the total area.
5. Base map with road net work, settlements CANAL CHAINAGE (km )

and tanks within the buffer are generated in

Fig. 8 Longitudinal profile of Canal GIS environment. Drainage map with
streams and tanks within the buffer are
Graph showing Power generation capacities at head locations along D-83 branch canal
generated in GIS environment and this
1764

2000

1800
analysis is used to identification of suitable
POWER GENERATION CAPACITY ( kWh )

1506
1465
1465
1458

1435

1600
locations. The facilities available like road
1290

1255

1400

network, nearby settlement details are

1076
1076
1076

1045
1040
1022

1200
986

968
968

956
933
933

studied at head locations identified.

843

1000
813
765

715
645

800
6. Power generation capacities using power
610

600

400
output equation have been calculated, at 26
200 identified suitable locations. The power
0
1
generation capacity is found to be maximum
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

1764 kWh at 9.488 km with head of 3.048m, HEAD LOCATIONS

and minimum, 610 kWh at km 28.309 with a

Fig 5.6 Power generation capacities at head locations of D-83 branch canal

Fig.9 Power generation capacity at head locations head of 1.219m and total power generation
capacity at all locations is found to be
Conclusions 28,108 kWh.
The specific conclusions drawn from the present By taking all the above specific conclusions
study are as follows into consideration, it is finally concluded that the
1. The total length of the D-83 branch canal twenty six identified locations are found to be
has been found to be 44.075 km in GIS suitable for small hydropower plants by using
environment. geomatics. These twenty six locations identified
through this study for setting up small hydropower
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plants will go a long way to meet the energy demand

in addition to the already existing six hydropower
plants by the state government of Andhra Pradesh.

References
[1] M.M. Dandekar and K.N.Sharma “Water
Power Engineering ” , 1979
[2] M.K.R Menon M.K.R (1973) “Hydropower
Development in India” , Journal of Hydro
power, Vol 9: 15-17
[3] Suri L.R(1983) “ Hydro power planning in
India” , Journal of Hydro power, Vol 29: 30-
34
[4] Ashok Kumar Sinha Dr.(2000) “Small
hydro plants”, Journal of Hydro power, Vol
53: 42-45
[5] Scott Davies “ Clean power from water” ,
1978
[6] Adam Harvey “ A guide to small scale water
power schemes”, 1978
[7] Jeremy Thake “ Installation of small scale
hydro power schemes”, 1976
[8] F. Forouzbakhsh “ Investment analysis of
small hydro power plants”, 1972
[9] Ministry of power, Government of India
2010 (www.powermin.nic.in)
[10] Sectoral Overview Report on Hydropower
Development in India, AHEC, IIT Roorkie,
February 2007.
[11] Central Electricity Authority: Power
Scenario at a Glance, Central electricity
Authority, New Delhi, April 2010.
[12] The Energy & Research Institute (TERI)
[13] India Ministry of Non- conventional Energy
Sources (MNES)
[14] National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC)
[15] Alternate Hydro energy centre IIT, Roorkie,
Uttaranchal state, India
[16] A guide to small scale water power schemes
– by Adam Harvey
[17] M. ANJI REDDY “Remote sensing and
Geographical Information Systems”,1997
[18] ARC GIS 9.1 manual
[19] Images from www.googleearth.com.

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