Mini hydropower development in Liberia (< 10 MW) under the SREP (Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program for low income countries)
Location
Liberia, Nimba and SE counties
project period
Aug 2013 - Dec 2013
client
AfDB, African Development Bank
Services provided
Consultancy
Partner organisation
Identification and characterisation of a number of small hydropower projects in the context of the “Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP) for low income countries” in Liberia. Being approved as a SREP pilot country Liberia was tentatively allocated a fund of up to USD 50 million to support the implementation of RE investments.
Services provided by Skat: review of documentation provided by AfDB, WB and RREA (Rural Renewable Energy Agency), analysis and evaluation of information from existing databases and reports, review of benchmarks and selection criteria and of other electrification projects in the Southeast (Maryland, Grand Kru, River Gee, Grand Gedeh) and the border region up to the North in Nimba county; site screening, hydrological study and capacity building, field survey for site assessment, cost and performance estimations and contribution to the SREP Concept Note.
Objective: analyse and evaluate existing hydropower assessments (mostly desktop studies) and - based on available studies and field visits - identify potential hydropower sites suitable for supplying electricity to isolated mini grids and/or to feed (surplus) electricity to the national grid.
Activities: collect information at stakeholders (Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy, Rural Renewable Energy Agency, Liberian Hydrological Services, Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, EU, USAID etc.), evaluate existing studies, hydrological and topographic information and assumptions on electricity consumption, load forecasts, ability to pay; visit 8 potential pre-selected sites; propose immediate measures; draft ToR for further identification of potential sites and for feasibility studies; analyse opportunity cost and investment cost for hydropower development; train local staff on-the-job on hydropower site assessment; estimate electricity consumption for selected sites (based on information from GIS); do rough cost and performance estimates; contribute to a brief concept note for small hydro electrification in Liberia.
Results: The potential for developing mini hydropower sites for electrification of the South-eastern part of Liberia is roughly assessed (3 favourable sites are identified) and follow-up activities are prepared.