EcoLur
In the framework of the project entitled “Support to the Reforms of SHPPs through a Dialogue between the Public and The Ministry of Nature Protection of the RA for the Purpose of River Ecosystem Use” the expert group visited “Tezh” SHPP. “Tezh” SHPP is located in the administrative area of Meghradzor community, Kotayk Region. The SHPP is constructed on the Tezh River (length – 12 km). The SHPP is operated by “Tezh Waterfall” LLC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- The SHPP has been operating since 2006.
- The constructed head section doesn’t comply with the projected solutions. According to the projected solutions, the dam water intake should have looked like a structure of 5 meters high with water intake, silt separator and a stair-like fish passway on the left wing, through which the environmental flow will go out. As a matter of fact there is no dam and fish passway, the riverbed is open, where the fish can move freely and without any obstacles. The water intake is done through the brooklet from the river, which joins the silt separator.
- The environmental flow is laid down 0.02 cum/s in the water usage permit. At the moment of observation, the SHPP water intake was carried out in unorganized manner, while the remaining water was flowing in the open riverbed.
- During the floods the Tezh River is filled with cobbles and muddy water. In low-water months the river almost gets dry, as the set environmental flow of 20 l/s says.
- The fish-protecting structure near the pipeline entrance is missing, which shows that the fish can directly flow into the SHPP pressure pipeline.
- You can meet the following fish species in the SHPP head section: brown trout -Salmo fario, the Kura barbell - Barbus cyri, and the South Caspian sprilin Alburnoides eichwaldii.
- The technical solutions for laying 2733-meter long pressure pipeline with 720 millimeter diameter comply with the project. It’s completely closed, except for the section crossing with the river. The land areas are completely reclaimed.
- The area of the station is improved: sufficient greening works have been carried out. The area of the station has been fenced with a line of decorative trees. Forest areas stretch on the other bank of the river and the green area of the station doesn’t isolate from the natural landscape.
- The SHPP building is nicely structured, but has large sized, as it has been constructed for three turbines as laid down in the project. Two turbines manufactured by local “Khorda” LLC have been installed. According to the worker, the SHPP works with two turbines only in one month – May. Even in 2015, which is considered to be full-water year, with the operation of two turbines it was possible to ensure maximum 1860 kW capacity instead of project 2064 kW. According to the worker, they were able to operate the SHPP at its full capacity only in the first year, but then the pressure went down, which can’t be recovered so far.
- SHPP turbine substation is completely fenced, where two turbines are installed with no oil-collecting system.
- According to the projected solution, a toilet (with water-proof well) has been constructed for the discharge of household wastewater.
- Landscape violations are insignificant.
- There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
- Semi-automatic management system operates in the station.
- Automatic management system of the water level in the water intake is missing.
Conclusion
The low productivity of the SHPP is conditioned with low effectiveness of the turbines and incorrect water and economic estimates.
Proposals
- To exercise control over environmental flow.
- To replace turbines with turbines of high-technical effectiveness.
- To install a water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body and semi-automatic water level management system.
- To install oil-collecting system in the turbine substation.
- To install a fish-protecting struture.
The material was developed in the frames of “Supporting reforms in the sector of small hydro power plants through enabling a dialogue between civil society and the Ministry of Nature Protection for sustainable use of river ecosystems” supported by UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme".
September 08, 2015 at 13:48