Hydropower as

Energy Source
BY
MOHEDDIN U. SUMAGAYAN
Why Hydropower?

Energy from water or hydropower is still the cheapest

way to generate energy (electricity). After constructing
the essential infrastructure and installing the equipment,
the energy source is free and is continuously and
naturally renewed by precipitation.
This process of energy generation is a reliable,
environmental friendly and renewable source of
electricity since it only requires energy from moving
water.
Situation in SEA
Nearly 85 per cent of electrical power is generated from fossil fuels.
The renewable mix relies almost exclusively on hydro and
geothermal electricity generation (12 % and 3 % respectively).
The combination of rapid economic development coupled with
the very rapid urbanization rate globally has led SEA region emits
greenhouse gases (GHGs) twice as fast as the global average.
Its vast untapped opportunities in renewable energy development
and energy efficiency should play an integral role in curbing future
emissions.
Hydropower development in the region can help ASEAN achieve
its target of 15 per cent of renewable energy in the total ASEAN
power supply by 2020.
Overview of the electrification
conditions in the SEA region

Source: World Small Hydro Power Development Project Report in 2013

(www.smallhydroworld.org )
Hydropower in the Philippines

Philippines is a tropical country.

The Philippines produces rainfall ranging from 965 to 4,064 millimeters
every year where 1,000mm to 2,000mm are collected as runoff by a
natural topography of 412 principal river basins, 59 natural lakes and
many small streams
Through the Renewable Energy Law, the National Renewable Energy
Program (NREP) aims to increase hydropower capacity by 160 per cent
Hydropower Accdg to Size
Type of Hydro Generation
accdg to Size
Large Hydro >100MW
Medium Hydro 10MW 100MW
Small Hydro 1MW 10MW *Philippine
Mini-hydro 100KW 1MW definition
(according to World
Micro-hydro 5KW 100KW Small Hydropower
Report by UNIDO &
Pico-hydro <5kW* ICSHP):
Upto 1 kW
Small Hydropower (SHP)
Under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and
International Center on Small Hydropower, all hydropower up to 10 MW
is defined as small.
SHP has greatly contributed to
solving the problem of rural electrification
improving living standards and production conditions
promoting rural economic development
alleviating poverty
reducing emissions
SHP is an economically efficient technology, highly favored by the
international community, especially by developing countries.
Small Hydro in the Philippines

Total installed capacity for SHP plants is 101 MW with a

total estimated potential of 1,874 MW (approximately 5.4
%) has been developed.
Recent Mindanao Power Mix
Non-renewable 1,898 MW 1,070 MW coal + 828 MW diesel
Renewable 1,264 MW 108 MW geo-thermal, 1,061 MW
hydro, 36 MW biomass, & 59 MW
solar
Total installed 3,162 MW
capacity

Mindanaos power mix: more coal and diesel than hydro

Mindanao is home to many large river systems and many hydropower
plants
Zero head hydro
With the continuing electrical crisis and concern for the environmental
impact on the fish ecosystem with the use and installation of water
dams for hydropower systems, many technologies have emerged to
generate hydropower with no heads or zero heads and thus, has no
use for dams but instead just rely on the movement of water.
These systems rely on the free flow of water.
These hydropower systems usually operate in river, tidal, and ocean
currents.
For river systems, they are also called run-of-river hydropower systems.
The faster the current, the more energy is harnessed.
The turbine used for these systems are sometimes called free-flow
hydropower turbine or marine current turbine or MCT or hydrokinetic
turbine or HKT.
Conclusion
SHP has greatly contributed to
solving the problem of rural electrification
improving living standards and production conditions
promoting rural economic development
alleviating poverty
reducing emissions
Run-of-river hydropower systems are convenient for study as there is abundance
of energy source in the topography of Mindanao especially in Lanao areas.
Run-of-river hydro is also very convenient to install.
Run-of-River hydro is a huge help in energizing underserved/ unenergized and
marginalized rural areas where access to the grid is still unavailable and thus have
a huge economic impact.
References
World Small Hydro Power Development Project Report in 2013
www.smallhydroworld.org
Hydro Power Development Project Report in 2016
www.smallhydroworld.org
PAGASA https://www1.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/
NWRB http://www.nwrb.gov.ph/
DOE https://www.doe.gov.ph/
https://www.doe.gov.ph/list-existing-power-plants
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/02/mindanaos-
power-mix-more-coal-and-diesel-now-than-hydro/