A hydrological assessment was carried out for two sites where run-of-river hydropower plants are planned, in the southwestern part of Georgia. Only very limited streamflow data were available, so the assessment was based mainly on hydrological modelling of the basin upstream of the points of interest. Principally global datasets were used for the input requirements of the hydrological modelling. Validation of the model was done using limited recent streamflow data available and satellite-based snowcover measurements. The principal output of the work are daily flows and a flow duration curve, based on model simulations. The flow duration curve includes confidence bounds based on the uncertainties that can be expected originating from data and model parameters. From this hydrological assessment, a number of recommendations are put forward that aim at increasing the level of accuracy in the outcomes and narrow the uncertainty range for the following feasibility stage. Recommendations are done for data improvements, model improvements and field validation.
There is interest to develop run-off river hydropower plants in a watershed in southwestern Georgia: a cascade of two projects of around 25 MW each. Before the actual development phase can start, a hydrological assessment is necessary to assess expected flows at the two locations with higher accuracy than currently available from limited flow measurements.
FutureWater was contracted by the developers to undertake an assessment of the expected daily flows at the two site locations , based on satellite data and hydrological modelling. Only very limited streamflow data were available, so the assessment was based mainly on hydrological modelling of the basin upstream of the points of interest. Principally global datasets were used for the input requirements of the hydrological modelling. Validation of the model was done using limited recent streamflow data available and satellite-based snowcover measurements. The principal output of the work are daily flows and a flow duration curve, based on model simulations. The flow duration curve includes confidence bounds based on the uncertainties that can be expected originating from data and model parameters.
From this hydrological assessment, a number of recommendations are put forward that aim at increasing the level of accuracy in the outcomes and narrow the uncertainty range for the following feasibility stage. Recommendations are done for data improvements, model improvements and field validation. Outcomes of this study will be used by the developer to analyse the hydropower potential and evaluate the economic feasibility.
