Optimizing hydropower development using a modified discharge beneath a dam with a controlled inundation at upstream reaches

Hydropower is a major source of green energy worldwide, accounting for around 16% of the world’s electricity production. The construction of dams is a common method of hydropower development, particularly in arid areas where river flow is variable. The river runoff and topographic information below the dam construction site can provide ideal conditions for hydropower exploitation. The use of GIS and remote sensing, along with hydrologic modeling, can facilitate input data requirements for simulation tasks and practical development work. This can reflect the potential for power generation in different locations worldwide, including those where dams have already been built. The development of river runoff hydropower can have negative impacts such as causing floods in upstream areas, which can be evaluated using hydrologic modeling. Despite these challenges, the opportunity to use multiple sites for hydropower generation can make development more economically attractive. The approach under this research indicate that it can be possible to generate up to 10 MW power without any flood inundation at downstream reach.