Technical Assessment of Existing Irrigation Schemes for Micro-hydro Power Generation Potential in Jimma, Buno Bedelle, and Ilubabor Zones, South-Western Oromia

The energy created by the force of water can provide a more sustainable, non-polluting alternative to fossil fuels, with other renewable energy sources including wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, and bioenergy. Micro hydropower, which is hydro energy on a ‘small’ scale, provides hydro-mechanical and hydroelectricity to small communities. The purpose of this study is to conduct technical assessments of the micro-hydropower potential of generating hydroelectric and hydro mechanical power from existing irrigation schemes in Southwestern Oromia. From three zones, 14 schemes from Jimma Zone, 14 schemes from Buno Bedele Zone, and 3 schemes from Ilubabor Zone were selected; all of these schemes had the potential for irrigation and were functional, out of 13 woreda, 31 irrigation schemes were assessed. Among the analyzed schemes, the maximum Hydraulic power potential for micro-hydropower generation at 80% efficiency was 5.14kW at the Gura scheme in the Gechi woreda in the Buno Bedele zone. The maximum discharge and head recorded were 1.027m<sup>3</sup>/s and 1.4m at the Gura scheme in the Gechi woreda in the Bedele zone, and the Hursa scheme in the Gomma woreda in the Jimma zone. Some of the assessed schemes are not sufficient for micro-hydro power generation, except the Gura scheme in the Gechi woreda in the Buno Bedele zone. However, some of them are possible with technical advances for Pico-hydropower.