Efficiency Analysis of Hydroelectric Power Plant Establishment for Medium Reservoirs: A Case Study of Lampang Province

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study the characteristics and suitability for the establishment of medium-sized hydroelectric power plants in Lampang province and invent a mathematical model for planning the production and distribution of electricity to the community. The obtained results of this research conclude that the selection of reservoirs for the feasibility analysis of hydropower plant establishments by using the Exponential smoothing Holt-Winter method to forecast water volumes three years in advance of 29 medium-sized reservoirs found that 17 reservoirs were able to establish medium-sized power plants and could be analyzed further, which is 58.62% of the total number of reservoirs.  Afterward, a suitable turbine type was chosen based on the appropriate reservoirs. It was found that two types of turbines could be used: 13 Kaplan reflex hydro turbines, representing 76.47 percent of all reservoirs capable of establishing medium-sized power plants, and 4 Crossflow impact hydro turbines, representing 23.53 percent of all reservoirs capable of establishing medium-sized power plants. The above information was applied in planning the production and distribution of electricity to communities through a mixed-integer linear programming model. The presented model found that there are three suitable areas for the establishment of hydroelectric power plants, including Mae Tok reservoir, Mae Tam reservoir, and Mae Wa reservoir. In addition, each reservoir distributes electric power to Ban Lai community of 21.21 KW, to Sop Mae Tam community of 301.04 KW, and Hua Thung community of 297.15 KW, respectively. According to the results of this research It is merely a quantitative approach to assess the establishment of hydroelectric power plants. However, in establishing a hydroelectric power plant, other qualitative factors need to be studied in parallel as a final decision component.