Feasibility Study and Characterization of Ugboha River for Hydroelectric Power Plant; NJRER - Vol. 1, No. 5 - 2025:

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a feasibility study and characterization of Ugboha (Edoha) river situated at Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, for hydroelectric power plant. The study was done on the need to mitigate the inadequate and epileptic electricity supply being experienced by the National Institute of Construction Technology and Management (NICTM), Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, a Federal Polytechnic situated between Amendokhian community and Ugboha community in Edo State, Nigeria. The use of backup diesel generating plants has increased the overall operating cost of the polytechnic due to the need to purchase fuel and the associated maintenance cost of the plants. The method adopted in this research was the determination of the discharge (flow) rate via the floating technique, while the surface and the mean velocities of the river, the kW derivability, irrigation potential to the communities’ farmers and flood control in the Local Government Area of the state were evaluated. The Ugboha (Edoha) river has a flow rate of 1.75 m³/s with estimated head of 4.3 m and hydroelectric power generating potential of about 55.31 kW. The feasibility work and characterization of the Ugboha (Edoha) river was significant at it will aid the commencement of detailed project report (DPR) that will highlight detailed study of hydrology and geology, environmental impact assessment, flood control in the area and weir structure for hydropower plant on the Ugboha (Edoha) River.