Capacity Identification and Operational Policy of the Proposed Broadlands Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant

Broadlands Hydropower Project (BHP) with an installed capacity of 35 MW and expected annual energy generation of 137 GWh will harness the last remaining hydropower potential of the Kehelgamu-Maskeli Oya (K-M) Complex located in Kitulgala area. The construction of the main dam of the BHP will directly affect White-Water Rafting (WWR) that takes place along the downstream of the said area. To sustain this sport activity which has become a tourist attraction, and to avoid conflicts that could arise among concerned parties, a certain quantity of water (yet to be decided) has to be released during day time from the main dam which would reduce the amount of annual energy that was originally expected to be generated from BHP. However, the possibility of recovering some of the lost energy by releasing the water through a mini hydroelectric power plant located downstream of Kelani River close to the BHP Main Dam cannot just be ignored. This research study therefore investigated the technical impact of releasing water under different operational policies through the main dam of the Broadlands Power Plant and the possibility of recovering the energy lost using the proposed mini hydroelectric power plant while catering to WWR. Finally, the economic impact of avoiding the cost of dispatching of thermal power plants under different operational scenarios of the composite power system as stated by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is presented.