|
The team of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) conducted a WEF Nexus trade-off analysis for small-scale hydropower installations at the Shakhimardan demonstration site in Uzbekistan.
The Shakhimardan demonstration site, located in Uzbekistan, has been identified as a potential location for a small-scale hydropower installation. The site currently faces electricity shortages, particularly during the winter season, leading to the use of coal for heating. The proposed hydropower installation on the Koksu River aims to address these energy challenges and improve the region's electricity supply.
The proposed small hydropower project at Shakhimardan is expected to generate 11.5 GWh of hydropower annually, with an economic value of US$0.57 million. The local community will have the choice between two options for integrating electricity generated from SHP: a) integrating it into the existing electrical grid sourced from Kyrgyzstan, or b) operating as an independent autonomous grid provider. One possibility is to supply the electricity needs of the Uzbek territory and nearby settlements in the Kyrgyz territory, potentially making the Uzbek enclave independent in terms of electricity supply.
In addition, the proposed SHP project will operate as a run-of-river project without a storage component. This mode of operation ensures that there will be no significant impact on the quantity and timing of water availability for downstream users. Therefore, there are no direct trade-offs related to the Water-Energy-Food nexus concerning water availability under existing and future streamflow conditions.
It is worth noting that the major agricultural water users downstream of the Uzbek enclave are also in Uzbekistan's Fergana district, while the downstream use in the Kyrgyz territory is relatively minimal. This implies that the SHP project's operation will not significantly affect agricultural water availability in the region.
However, there are indirect impacts associated with the availability of electricity from the proposed SHP project. The local population has expressed a desire to utilize part of the generated electricity for lift irrigation in the enclave. An additional 70 hectares of land have been identified for irrigated agriculture, in addition to the existing 350 hectares.
To meet this irrigation requirement, an estimated 2-5 GWh of energy would be needed, based on standard energy intensities for lift irrigation in Central Asia. Groundwater pumping is not feasible in this area, making reliable electricity crucial for supporting agricultural development.
Furthermore, the availability of reliable electricity may also contribute to the revival of regional tourism, which has declined significantly since 2005. Overall, the analysis highlights the importance of considering the WEF nexus in decision-making processes for sustainable development.
|
