Environmental Impact Hydropower Calculator
Environmental Impact Hydropower Calculator estimates the environmental effects of a hydropower project, including greenhouse gas emissions avoided, land inundation area, and fish passage disruption potential, with a graphical display and step-by-step calculations.
Formulas Used in Environmental Impact Hydropower Calculator
The calculator uses the following formulas to estimate environmental impacts:
Annual Energy Production:
\\[ E = \frac{P}{1000} \cdot H \cdot D \\]GHG Emissions Avoided:
\\[ M_{\text{avoided}} = E \cdot F_{\text{coal}} \cdot 10^{-3} \\]Land Inundation Area:
\\[ A_{\text{inundated}} = A_{\text{res}} \\]Fish Passage Disruption Index:
\\[ I_{\text{fish}} = \min \left( 100, 10 \cdot h^{0.5} \cdot \left( \frac{Q}{Q_{\text{max}}} \right)^{0.3} \right) \\]Where:
- \\( E \\): Energy produced (kWh/year)
- \\( P \\): Power capacity (W)
- \\( H \\): Operating hours per day
- \\( D \\): Operating days per year
- \\( M_{\text{avoided}} \\): Emissions avoided (metric tons COâ‚‚e/year)
- \\( F_{\text{coal}} \\): Coal emission factor (0.95 kg COâ‚‚e/kWh)
- \\( A_{\text{inundated}} \\): Inundated area (km²)
- \\( A_{\text{res}} \\): Reservoir area (km²)
- \\( I_{\text{fish}} \\): Fish passage disruption index (0 to 100)
- \\( h \\): Dam height (m)
- \\( Q \\): Average flow rate (m³/s)
- \\( Q_{\text{max}} \\): Reference maximum flow (100 m³/s)
Example Calculations
Example 1: Small-Scale Project
Input: Power Capacity = 500,000 W, Hours = 24, Days = 365, Reservoir Area = 5 km², Dam Height = 10 m, Flow Rate = 1 m³/s
Result: Energy = 4,380,000 kWh/year, Emissions Avoided = 4,161 metric tons CO₂e/year, Inundation Area = 5 km², Fish Disruption Index = 12.3
Example 2: Medium-Scale Project
Input: Power Capacity = 1,000,000 W, Hours = 20, Days = 200, Reservoir Area = 10 km², Dam Height = 50 m, Flow Rate = 2.265 m³/s
Result: Energy = 4,000,000 kWh/year, Emissions Avoided = 3,800 metric tons CO₂e/year, Inundation Area = 10 km², Fish Disruption Index = 32.6
Example 3: Large-Scale Project
Input: Power Capacity = 10,000,000 W, Hours = 22, Days = 300, Reservoir Area = 50 km², Dam Height = 100 m, Flow Rate = 11.992 m³/s
Result: Energy = 66,000,000 kWh/year, Emissions Avoided = 62,700 metric tons CO₂e/year, Inundation Area = 50 km², Fish Disruption Index = 65.8