Technical Assessment of Existing Irrigation Schemes for Micro-Hydro Power Generation Potential in the Case of West Shewa and East Wollaga, Ethiopia

The energy generated by the force of water can provide a more sustainable, non-polluting alternative to fossil fuels and other renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, and bioenergy. Micro hydropower is hydro energy on a small scale and provides hydromechanical and hydroelectric power to small communities. This study aimed to conduct technical assessments of the micro-hydropower potential of generating hydroelectric and hydro mechanical power from existing irrigation schemes in West Shewa and East Wollaga, Oromia. From the two zones, 16 schemes from the East Wollaga Zone, and 5 schemes from the West Shewa Zone were selected; all of these schemes had the potential for irrigation and were functional. Out of 8 districts, 21 irrigation schemes were technically assessed. Among the analyzed schemes, the maximum Hydraulic power potential for micro-hydropower generation at 80% efficiency was 14.27 kW at the Chaka Arba scheme in the Wayu Tuka district and 5.95 kW, 5.35 kW, 6.54 kW, 5.4 kW, 5.35 kW, and 6.5 kW at Jalale, Gindo, Indiris, Laga Dabesa, Molo, and Sako schemes of East Wollaga Zone, respectively. The maximum discharge recorded was 1.429 m<sup>3</sup>/s at the Chole 3<sup>rd</sup> scheme in the Toke Kutaye district in the West Shewa zone. Generally, some of the assessed schemes are insufficient for micro-hydro power generation in the West Shewa zone. However, some of them are possible with technical advances for Pico-hydropower and micro-hydropower.