Technical and Socio Economic Assessment of Water Mill Sites for Micro Hydro Power Generation in North Shoa Zone of Amhara Region

Use of micro hydropower plants is an ideal method of providing power for off-grid rural communities especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. In Ethiopia only 8% of the rural community has access to electricity, and the power supply in the country is very low as compared to its population growth. The present study assesses the technical and socio economic aspect of water mill sites in North Shoa zone of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia for the development of micro hydro power plant. Through technical assessment of the flow rate measurement, head measurement and estimation of power generation potential of the mill sites has been done. The socio economic assessment was done by interviewing households, officials and mill owners. The results of the assessment shows that, out of the 14 mill sites investigated, 12 of them has the potential to generate power ranging from 5.52kw to 38.59kw with 80% efficiency during the dry season. It has been observed, the existing as well as former mill sites in North Shoa zone, are mostly located in the mountainous regions which offers an interesting opportunity for micro hydropower generation that would meet the energy demand of the villages at least 5km far from the main grid.