Development of a Small Hydropower Plant (SHP); A Review Study of Erin-Ijesa Water Fall, Erin-ijesa, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract Energy demand has been on the increase globally due to the increase in population, urbanization and industrialization. In developing countries, while the rate of energy consumption is increasing, supply which is usually produced from fossil fuels is depleting resulting in energy shortage and pollution. Hence the need to explore alternative or renewable sources of energy to meet current and future energy demand. This paper examines the potential of Erin-Ijesa waterfall as a possible source of power supply to Erin-Ijesa community. The erratic supply of electricity in Nigeria, Erin-Ijesa community inclusive makes it paramount to consider generating electricity from the waterfall. Towards achieving this, the waterfalls data were obtained from Osun State Water Corporation Board Secretariat in Osogbo and a survey was conducted on site at Erin-Ijesa water falls where the flow and the head parameters were collected. The falls gives gross head of 200m with water flow rate of 0.85m3/s. These two parameters were used in the standard hydroelectric power (SHP) equations. The results obtained gave a theoretical power of 1.4MW, compared with the required power consumption of 1MW by the inhabitants of Erin-Ijesa community. A deviation of +0.4 from the required power consumption. It was also observed that the generated power from the falls will be sufficient to supply the entire community. The viability of small hydropower plant and the reduction in design time were established. Small hydropower plant will perform well if explored and executed in Erin-Ijesa, and in Nigeria at large.