Finding potential sites for small-scale hydro power in Uganda : a step to assist the rural electrification by the use of GIS : a minor field study
(2005) In Lunds universitets Naturgeografiska institution - SeminarieuppsatserDept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
- Abstract
- Over 2 billion people, mostly in developing countries, have no access to modern fuels or electricity. The necessity of clean, efficient, reliable and affordable energy services is a crucial issue in developing countries, especially in the context of rural areas where the majority of the people lives. Renewable energy sources in shape of small-scale hydropower systems are a complement or alternative to grid extension. The purpose of this study was to develop a method in order to find potential sites for small-scale hydropower in our study area in southwestern Uganda, by using a Geographical Information System (GIS) and also to investigate the rural energy situation in the area. A GIS is a computerized information system for collecting and... (More)
- Over 2 billion people, mostly in developing countries, have no access to modern fuels or electricity. The necessity of clean, efficient, reliable and affordable energy services is a crucial issue in developing countries, especially in the context of rural areas where the majority of the people lives. Renewable energy sources in shape of small-scale hydropower systems are a complement or alternative to grid extension. The purpose of this study was to develop a method in order to find potential sites for small-scale hydropower in our study area in southwestern Uganda, by using a Geographical Information System (GIS) and also to investigate the rural energy situation in the area. A GIS is a computerized information system for collecting and handling data in databases as well as a powerful tool for analysis and visualization of geographical data. The results indicate a generally positive attitude to electricity and all interviewees were in great need of its services. Almost all consider themselves to have some means to pay for the electricity even if it is more expensive than what the energy cost today. Our self-designed algorithm identified 250 potential sites for small-scale hydropower stations in the study area. A selection of 14 sites out of these was evaluated and resulted in only three sites fulfilling the defined requirements. All sites met the requirement regarding a certain slope, but the majority lacked a permanent flow of water. The outcome from the evaluation was a result of low quality of the watercourse input data. In conclusion, our method is swift and precise, presupposed reliable input data is available. Presupposed there is a need for electricity and good financing possibilities, small-scale hydropower is an appropriate alternative to assist rural electrification, which will lead to improved standard of living. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Populärvetenskaplig sammanfattning: Mer än två miljarder människor, mestadels i utvecklingsländer, saknar tillgång till moderna energikällor eller elektricitet. Behovet av rena, effektiva, pålitliga och ekonomiskt överkomliga energitjänster är en viktig fråga i utvecklingsländer, särskilt för landsbygden, där merparten av befolkningen bor. Förnyelsebara energikällor i form av småskaliga vattenkraftverk är ett bra komplement eller alternativ till utbyggnad av befintligt elnät. Syftet med den här studien var att utveckla en metod för att hitta potentiella platser för småskaliga vattenkraftverk i vårt studieområde i sydvästra Uganda, genom användandet av ett Geografiskt Informationssystem (GIS), men också att studera landsbygdens... (More)
- Populärvetenskaplig sammanfattning: Mer än två miljarder människor, mestadels i utvecklingsländer, saknar tillgång till moderna energikällor eller elektricitet. Behovet av rena, effektiva, pålitliga och ekonomiskt överkomliga energitjänster är en viktig fråga i utvecklingsländer, särskilt för landsbygden, där merparten av befolkningen bor. Förnyelsebara energikällor i form av småskaliga vattenkraftverk är ett bra komplement eller alternativ till utbyggnad av befintligt elnät. Syftet med den här studien var att utveckla en metod för att hitta potentiella platser för småskaliga vattenkraftverk i vårt studieområde i sydvästra Uganda, genom användandet av ett Geografiskt Informationssystem (GIS), men också att studera landsbygdens energisituation i området. Ett GIS är ett datoriserat informationssystem för insamling och hantering av data i databaser, men också ett kraftfullt verktyg för analys och visualisering av geografisk data. Våra resultat visar en generellt positiv attityd till elektricitet och de intervjuade var i stort behov av dess tjänster. Nästan alla ansåg sig att i viss mån ha pengar till elektricitet, även om det skulle kosta dem mer än vad de betalar för sin energi idag. Vår egendesignade algoritm identifierade 250 potentiella platser för småskaliga vattenkraftverk i studieområdet. Ett urval av 14 av dessa utvärderades, vilket visade att bara tre platser uppfyllde uppsatta kriterier. Alla platser uppfyllde kravet på lutning, men merparten saknade ett permanent vattenflöde. Resultatet av utvärderingen berodde på låg kvalitet på inputdata innehållande vattendrag. Vår metod är sammanfattningsvis snabb och noggrann, förutsatt att pålitlig inputdata är tillgänglig. Förutsatt att det finns ett behov av elektricitet samt goda möjligheter till finansiering, så är småskaliga vattenkraftverk ett passande alternativ för att bistå distributionen av el till landsbygden, vilket kommer att leda till förbättrad levnadsstandard. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/1331255
- author
- Bergström, David and Malmros, Christoffer
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- GIS – ett sätt att ”belysa” småskaliga vattenkraftverk i Uganda
- year
- 2005
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- climatology, cartography, pedology, geomorphology, renewable energy, developing countries, Africa, Uganda, physical geography, GIS, naturgeografi, geomorfologi, marklära, kartografi, klimatologi
- publication/series
- Lunds universitets Naturgeografiska institution - Seminarieuppsatser
- report number
- 121
- funder
- SIDA, Minor Field Study programme (MFS)
- language
- English
- id
- 1331255
- date added to LUP
- 2005-12-05 00:00:00
- date last changed
- 2011-12-13 14:38:26
@misc{1331255,
abstract = {{Over 2 billion people, mostly in developing countries, have no access to modern fuels or electricity. The necessity of clean, efficient, reliable and affordable energy services is a crucial issue in developing countries, especially in the context of rural areas where the majority of the people lives. Renewable energy sources in shape of small-scale hydropower systems are a complement or alternative to grid extension. The purpose of this study was to develop a method in order to find potential sites for small-scale hydropower in our study area in southwestern Uganda, by using a Geographical Information System (GIS) and also to investigate the rural energy situation in the area. A GIS is a computerized information system for collecting and handling data in databases as well as a powerful tool for analysis and visualization of geographical data. The results indicate a generally positive attitude to electricity and all interviewees were in great need of its services. Almost all consider themselves to have some means to pay for the electricity even if it is more expensive than what the energy cost today. Our self-designed algorithm identified 250 potential sites for small-scale hydropower stations in the study area. A selection of 14 sites out of these was evaluated and resulted in only three sites fulfilling the defined requirements. All sites met the requirement regarding a certain slope, but the majority lacked a permanent flow of water. The outcome from the evaluation was a result of low quality of the watercourse input data. In conclusion, our method is swift and precise, presupposed reliable input data is available. Presupposed there is a need for electricity and good financing possibilities, small-scale hydropower is an appropriate alternative to assist rural electrification, which will lead to improved standard of living.}},
author = {{Bergström, David and Malmros, Christoffer}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{Lunds universitets Naturgeografiska institution - Seminarieuppsatser}},
title = {{Finding potential sites for small-scale hydro power in Uganda : a step to assist the rural electrification by the use of GIS : a minor field study}},
year = {{2005}},
}