Study of the Potential of Sea-Water Pumped Storage for Power Generation: Zway Islands in Ethiopia

EasyChair Preprint 5775

Abstract

Questions for the access of energy are continued in different parts of sub-saran Africa. One possible solution to these challenges is to hybridize renewables with conventional power systems and to include energy storage units. In this study, the evaluation of the sea-water storage potential of Zway Islands is presented as the first step before designing low carbon renewable-based energy supply system for communities on the Zway islands in Ethiopia. To investigate the pumped-hydro storage (PHS) potential, a GIS-based analysis is done using a 3D computer graphics representation know as digital elevation model (DEM) by considering the lake as the lower reservoir. The elevation is determined by using optical remote sensing technology, DEM Light Detection, and Ranging, DEM(LiDAR) 12.5-m instrument, which is one of the highest resolutions. Others included in the selection matrices are the topography, area, head, and slope. As a result, twelve upper reservoirs are identified within the head range of 50-250, 50-200, and 50-100m. In the process, island Tedecha is found to be of the highest potential candidate followed by Tulu Guddo and Funduro. The investigation proved that a small-scale pumped hydro-storage system can be developed with a minimum storage capacity of (503kw) x (12h).

Keyphrases: DEM, Ethiopia, GIS, Pumped hydro storage

@booklet{EasyChair:5775,
  author    = {Mintesinot Gizaw and Getachew Bekele},
  title     = {Study of the Potential of Sea-Water Pumped Storage for Power Generation: Zway Islands in Ethiopia},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 5775},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2021}}