Hydrokinetic power potential assessment of the Çoruh River Basin

Hydrokinetic power contributes to energy security by a sustainable and predictable power source, and its decentralized nature fosters economic development in local communities. Unlike large-scale hydropower projects, hydrokinetic power has lower environmental impacts, promoting technological innovation and supporting the transition to cleaner energy systems. Furthermore, it pledges to guarantee electricity in isolated regions where traditional power systems are not suited, enhancing energy accessibility. This study presents a method that combines the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) with the Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) to forecast the hydrokinetic power capacity of a basin. The research site chosen is the Çoruh River, a transboundary river basin with unavailable publicly accessible flow data. This method approximates the flow data utilizing the SWAT model, which relies on hydrological factors. Following the prediction of the flow data in the basin, the HECRAS model simulates the river's hydraulic conditions to estimate hydrokinetic energy potential. This integrated methodology provides a framework for optimizing hydrokinetic resources in diverse settings, guiding resource management, and sustainable energy planning. This study calculated theoretical hydrokinetic energy potential by considering flow velocity values. Results of the study indicated that the average flow velocity in the Çoruh basin reaches its maximum value of 0.99 m/s in spring and its minimum value of 0.69 m/s in summer, respectively. Based on the seasonal analysis of the integrated approach, the highest maximum theoretical hydrokinetic power density in the basin reaches 26 kW/m² during the spring and in sub-basins 5, 7, and 8. The average theoretical hydrokinetic power density is calculated as 0.28 kW/m². Finally, the study presents several potential locations along the Çoruh River through GIS mapping, where small-scale hydrokinetic turbines could be installed as a viable option.