HYDRO POWER – PROSPECTS AND IMPACTS

ON BANGLADESH

Rezaur RahmanProfessor

Institute of Water and Flood ManagementBangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Hydropower

• the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water.

• most widely used form of renewable energy. • produces no direct waste, and has a

considerably lower output level of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, than fossil fuel powered energy plants.

Hydro-electricity

• 675,000 MW of hydro-electricity

• approximately 20% of the world’s electricity

• accounting for about 88% of electricity from renewable sources.

Itaipu power plant

• largest hydroelectric power plant in the world• located between Brazil and Paraguay. • can generate 12,600 MW of power. • height of the dam reaches 196 meter and the

length 7.76 km. • lake created by the project spreads over

1,350 sq. km and contains 29 billion tons of water.

• cost of the project stands at US$20 billion.

Hydropower prospects in Bangladesh

• flat terrain - limited potential

• the rivers in the CHT hold such potentials.

• Kaptai on Karnafuli river generating 218 MW of power.

• other potential rivers are Matamuhuri and Sangu.

Hydropower prospects in the

Himalayan countries Country Installed

generation capacity (MW)

Hydropower developed

(MW)

Hydropower potential (MW)

Bangladesh 4,120 218 755

Bhutan 481 469 23,670/30,000

India 124,287 32,300 84,000/150,000

Nepal 684 627 43,000/83,000

Types of hydropower plants

• Run-of-river plants

• Storage plants

Micro hydro power plants

Major hydropower plant

Advantages of hydropower generation

• Economics

• Greenhouse gas emissions

• Multi-purpose use

Disadvantages of hydropower generation

• Hazard

• Limited Services Life

• Environmental damage

• Population relocation

Comparison with other methods of

power generation • Cost

• Renewable

• Emission of flue gas

• Limited sites

Karnafuli Hydro Power Station

• 230 MW generation capacity

• reservoir size is 777 sq. km

• Economic development

• Social disruption

Tipaimukh dam

• located on the Barak River in Manipur State of India

• multi-purpose - electricity generation and flood control

• electricity generation capacity - 1500 MWs

• risk of dam failure• impact on haor eco-system

Thank you for your attention