8209

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8209
• Author: Rochester, H., T. Lloyd and M. Farr.
• Title: Physical Impacts of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Facilities and Their Effects on Fish and Wildlife.
• USFW Year: 1984.
• USFW - Doc Type: 14-16-0009-82-020,
• Copyright Material: NO

3.1.1 Site Suitability Considerations in Small-Scale Hydro Development

The developer, working with engineers, will generally choose the ~ite
that will result in the maximum amount of power for the least investment of
money. Of interest to the developer are the rate paid for power, any tax
breaks and incentives that municipalities and the Federal government give,
the security of water rights, and the financing arrangements available for
a particular site. A feasibility study usually is done under a preliminary
permit from FERC before in-depth engineering studies or construction work
is started. According to Allen (1977), a SSH feasibility study consists
of a series of specialized analyses of various aspects of the proposed SSH
project, as follows:

. Geology of the site (including seismology);
. Hydrology of the site (including groundwater movement);
. Topography and land use;

. Water uses - existing and competing;

. Reservoir or pond age (if available);

. Analysis of power and energy production for dams of various
heights;

. Number, type, and size of generating units needed;

. Power station structure and auxiliaries to serve the generat-
ing units;

. Dam and spillway structure;

. Construction requirements and schedules; and

. Environmental constraints and resources present (may require
an instream flow analysis to determine probable amount of
water available for SSH).

From an engineering viewpoint, the best hydroelectric site normally is
the one with the maximum head in the least amount of linear distance. This
type of site is comparatively simple to adapt to hydroelectric power
generation because only a small amount of land needs to be flooded to
obtain a significant head. In fact, most of the best sites for hydroelec-
tric power in the conterminous United States have already been used.

At any site, the total annual power production depends on how much of
the avai lab le water can be used for hydropower. Requirements for minimum
releases of water for environmental purposes and the legal rights of down-
stream users must be considered in any analysis of site suitability because
releases represent a potential loss of gross income from the project and,
thus, may affect its economic feasibility.

21