Exploration Of Small Scale Hydropower Potentials In Rwanda And Availability Analysis Method To Supply Rural Population FAR To Be Connected To The Grid

Rwanda as most of African countries has nearly less than10%of electrification and90%of electrified areas are confined to the Cities. This prompted me, as an electrical Engineer, to focus my research in small-scale Hydropower exploration (Potentials in Rwanda) and exploratory study of small-scale Hydropower generation in general especially those, which are generated from remote areas to supply rural population and enhance their daily activities. This will help me to compare and conclude about the feasibility of available potentials in Rwanda and seek alternatives of how they could be exploited to benefit the population and a country as a whole. Here, my research is a survey related research to know better, understand and discover more about small scale Hydropower in general and especially how the off-grid small scale Hydropower technology is being exploited all over the World and seek how it can be diversified in Rwanda as well. All information provided in this thesis are based on previously published papers of people who made researches in small-scale hydropower field and some data were collected from Rwanda and others are my own considerations.In this thesis, after studying carefully and comparing different techniques used to generate and deliver power from small-scale hydropower sites, the suggestion will be made on which manner that suit to be implemented in Rwanda to develop small-scale Hydropower generation sector. This will be based on the already successfully running SSHPP. All the work is in line of motivation to increase the electrical energy production capacity in Rwanda, which is still not meeting the demand. The situation will improve especially by putting in place rural electrification system from small hydropower schemes instead of tapping from main national grid. What we need for faster uptake of small hydro in developing countries is assessment and dissemination of best practice in the promotion of sustainable hydro schemes, development and promotion of appropriate technical standards for small isolated schemes.P.S:This thesis utilizes “small hydro” as an encompassing term for representing micro, mini, and small hydro units.