EcoLur
In the framework of the project entitled “Support to SHPP-relating Reforms Through the Dialogue of Public and RA Nature Protection Ministry for Sustainable Use of River Ecosystems” the expert group visited “Her-Her 1” SHPP. “Her-Her 1” SHPP is located in the administrative area of Arin community, Vayots Dzor Region. The SHPP is constructed on the Her-Her River (length – 28 km). It’s operated by “Firma G.A.KH” LLC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- According to the project, the static pressure of the SHPP is 57.67 m, estimated pressure –51.96 m. The estimated yield used by the SHPP is 2.4 m3/s, projected capacity – 1022 kW. According to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015, the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 4.753985 million kWh, according to the project, the estimated production is 5.15 million kWh, duration of license - 02.12.2009-02.12.2024, water usage permit -14.06.2013-14.06.2016.
- The water intake necessary for the SHPP is carried out in the drainage facilities constructed down Her-Her reservoir immediately after another SHPP. There is no dam in the SHPP water intake section, though the project envisages a dam of 2 meters high. There is no fish passway in the water intake section in the SHPP, as in case of reservoir structures located immediately above the water intake section the need for fish passway loses its sense.
- You can meet the following fish species in the Her-Her river: brown trout, the Sevan Khramulya, the Kura Barbell, the South Caucasus Sprilin, the Kura whitefish, the rainbow trout may also penetrate.
- According to the water usage permit, the SHPP takes annually 54673.92 cum water, nevertheless, but it doesn’t any environmental flow. According to the SHPP representative, environmental flow of 495 l/s is let out into the river. At the moment of observation, there was about 150-200 l/s water.
- According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Her-Her 1” SHPP operated for 12 months in 2014 and produced 1898029 kW electricity.
- Derivation pipeline is made of steel, it’s mainly underground. According to the project, the length of the pipeline is 1423 meters, diameter – 1220 mm.
- Percentage correlation of aggregate length of SHPP derivation of “Her-Her 1” (developer – “FRIMA G.A.KH” LLC, length of pipeline – 1423 meters), “Her-Her 1” SHPP (developer – “VG and Vordiner” LLC, length of pipeline – 2111 meters, according to the project) with the length of Her-Her River makes up 12.62 % (3534) meters.
- There are two old and worn-out turbines (local production – “Khorda” and “Tsatryan”) were installed in the SHPP building (the project envisaged 2 turbines). At the moment of observation only one was operating. It was low-water period and “Francis” turbine ensured 200kW capacity with 500 l/s water amount. According to the employee, the economic profitability of the SHPP is very low, as the SHPP can’t secure its projected capacity, as the turbine works with a pump (effectiveness - 42%), as the turbines can’t work with little water amount.
- The transformers installed in the transformer substation are not equipped with oil-collecting system.
- There were different types of wastes collected in the area, including metal wastes and construction garbage generated because of hydrotechnical equipment. There was no solution for the discharge of the household wastewater.
- The area of the station is fenced and not improved. No greening works have been carried out.
- There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
- The distance between head section of the SHPP and “Herher” state reserve makes up 4000 meters.
- In 2014 and 2015 the State Environmental Inspection carried out inspections in the SHPP and didn’t record any violations. The SHPP employs five people.
Proposals
- To specify the size of the environmental flow in the water usage permit.
- To ensure automatic management of the environmental flow in the head section thus regulating the water amount used by the SHPP and the amount of the set environmental flow through measuring devices.
- To re-equip the SHPP with highly effective hydroturbines to get projected indicators, which will operate with low water amount and ensure high economic effectiveness of the SHPP, as the current ones are very out-of-date.
- To clean the station area from metallic wastes and construction garbage and carry out the discharge of the household garbage.
- To implement sufficient greening and improvement works.
- To equip transformers with oil-collecting system.
- To reclaim underground parts of the pipeline.
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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".
February 09, 2016 at 12:38