Investigation of the Hydroelectric Development Potential of Nonpowered Dams: A Case Study of the Buyuk Menderes River Basin

The adaptation of nonpowered dams (NPDs) to dams with hydroelectric generation units requires only minor interventions compared with the construction of a completely new dam and power plant. Thus, it is both more economical and has a minimal environmental impact, especially during construction. The aim of this study was to determine the environmental, technical, and economic feasibility of hydroelectric retrofitting projects in the Buyuk Menderes basin in Turkey. For this purpose, the economic feasibility and retrofitting potential of 11 NPDs in the basin were investigated using Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) software. The results from the energy simulation revealed that the annual average hydropower generation potential and installed capacity for the selected 11 NPDs are 38.7 GWh/year and 4.4 MW, respectively. The total estimated capital investment cost of the 11 retrofit projects was found to be $7.9 million with a total NPV of $25.6 million. In addition, in this study, the leveled electricity cost for each retrofitting project was established and compared with the LCOE values of other renewable energy sources. The findings show that retrofitting NPDs may represent an as yet untapped opportunity to support the global energy transition by providing a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option to pioneer rural electrification.