Investeringar i småskalig vattenkraft vid befintliga dammar
- En studie av teknik-, ekonomi- och miljöfrågor
TechnologyEconomicsEnvironmentScaleSmallHydroPowerInvestmentProfitabilityExcelToolHydrolyzerSmåskaligVattenkraftInvesteringsbedömningLönsamhetExcelverktygHydrolyzerTeknikEkonomiMiljö
In this thesis a method for evaluating investments in small scale hydro power is presented. An analysis of the future position that small scale hydro production will have on the Nordic electricity market is also carried out. This is done by an inventory of technology and economic and environmental aspects. The inventory is also a guide as to how the project should be implemented.Hydrolyzer is the name of the Excel tool developed to evaluate investments. The tool requests input data from the user and then evaluates the investment and generates a sensitivity analysis. Several projects or scenarios can be entered and are then ranked after profitability. For example a major repair can be compared to a new power station and tailrace excavations are possible to evaluate.The profitability of small scale hydro power investment mainly depends on the size of the initial investment. The power generation costs average among the lowest among possible future power plants. This trend applies to comparisons between renewable and fossil production plants. Electricity prices will probably not fall back to historic levels, due to fuel shortage and increasing environmental concerns. Price prognosis therefore indicates that investments, which on calculation seem profitable, will also be so.Small scale hydro investments at existing dams are socio-economically and environmentally sound. The investments contribute with clean power but have local environmental impacts. At existing dams this damage is already done and expensive to undo if at all possible. Theenvironmental impacts can be dramatically reduced by construction of fish passages etc. In the thesis an example shows that economic resources for environmental constructions often depend on electricity certificates and that residual flows aren?t greater than necessary.An investment project should start by evaluating possible scenarios that the hydro power permit may result in. The transmission capacity should also be investigated at an early stage. Materials should be chosen with care and evaluated with a star diagram. A synchronousgenerator without a speed increaser should be considered for the hydro investment. The turbine type should be suggested by the manufacturer who also has to be able to guarantee efficiencies and cavitation resistance. Submersible turbines should be considered as they significantly reduce building costs. Involved persons need to be experienced and the tenders should be lump sums except for costs which are difficult to determine.