Hydropower in Cameroon
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Hydropower in Cameroon DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Hydropower in Cameroon Sebastien Tchuidjang Tchouaha Bachelors Thesis in Energy System Engineering Examiner: Ulf Larsson Supervisor: Ulf Larsson Page | 1 Hydropower in Cameroon Page | 2 Hydropower in Cameroon Acknowledgment Firstly, this thesis topic Hydropower in Cameroon has finally come to an end after some months of hard work, studies and research from different articles and books. Secondly, am thankful for having the opportunity to write on this topic with the help and approval of my head of department Ulf Larsson who has being of grate help and support throughout these past months. Furthermore, I will like to thank Belinda Fonyam my Fiancé, Yvonne a friend and some of my family members back home (Cameroon) for their assistance and support during this past months. Finally, I admit with gratitude the contribution of the scholars, journals, presses, the publishers of the article Global Village Cameroon (GVC), Mr. Kum Julius, Mr. Jie Cai, Mr. Egbe Tah Franklin, the ministry of Water and Energy (MINEE) and my brother Mr. Ndontsi Marcel a teacher in Cameroon whom has been instrumental during my research. Page | 3 Hydropower in Cameroon Page | 4 Hydropower in Cameroon Abstract Now our days with the great development of science and technology, it‟s of more importance to develop renewable energy sources used for electricity generation. I wish to introduce something about the Cameroonian water resources. Hydropower being one of the most used source of energy production in the world it has also developed rapidly in Cameroon whereby about 90% of the electricity generated is from hydropower and it also help in bursting the country‟s economy by exportation to neighbouring countries. Hydropower being the main source of energy production in the country, there are three main power stations namely Edea, Song Loulou and Lagdo power stations and some are still in Project for construction such as the Mape, Mbakaou and the Bamendjin Dams and still some more dams are still under investigation. These sources of energy production is renewable, non-polluting energy with low cost operation as advantages but also has its own disadvantages such as droughts and also it helps in improving the utility. Furthermore Cameroon is the second highest hydro potential in Central Africa after the Democratic Republic of Congo. Page | 5 Hydropower in Cameroon Page | 6 Hydropower in Cameroon Table of content Acknowledgment .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Study and functioning of some sources of renewable energy. ........................................................ 10 1.2.1 Photovoltaic ................................................................................................................................... 10 1.2.2 Wind power ................................................................................................................................... 11 1.2.3 Geothermal Energy ........................................................................................................................ 13 1.2.4 Hydropower ................................................................................................................................... 14 2 Purpose .................................................................................................................................................... 15 3 Method .................................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Database search ................................................................................................................................. 15 3.2 Interview ........................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.1 AES-SONEL .............................................................................................................................. 16 3.2.2 The Ministry of Energy and water (MINEE) ............................................................................. 16 Questions: ................................................................................................................................................... 17 4 Results ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Central African Power Pool ............................................................................................................... 20 4.2 Analysis of Cameroon electricity sector ............................................................................................ 23 4.3 Song Loulou power plant .................................................................................................................. 23 4.4 Hydropower projects in Cameroon................................................................................................... 26 4.4.1 Mape Dam .................................................................................................................................. 26 4.4.2 Bamendjin dam .......................................................................................................................... 28 4.4.3 Lom Pangar Dam ........................................................................................................................... 28 4.4.4 Mouséré Hydroelectric Project .................................................................................................. 30 4.4.5 Grand Eweng Project ................................................................................................................. 31 5 Development of hydropower issues ........................................................................................................ 35 5.1 Advantages ........................................................................................................................................ 35 5.2 Disadvantages ................................................................................................................................... 36 6 Development of hydropower proposals .................................................................................................. 39 Discussion.................................................................................................................................................... 41 Page | 7 Hydropower in Cameroon Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 45 References: ................................................................................................................................................. 47 Page | 8 Hydropower in Cameroon Introduction Background Energy is the convertibility of technology. Without energy in the world today, the society as we know will crumble. The cutoff of power supply to a city for 24 hours shows how totally dependent we are on that particularly useful form of energy. Life and computers ceases to function, hospitals sinks, maintenance level and the lights go out. Due to the population growth in the world today, the need of more and more energy is exacerbated. Enhanced lifestyle and energy demand rise together and the wealthy industrialized economies which contain about 25% of the world‟s population consumes about 75% of the worlds energy supply.[1] Energy resources have increased the economic development for each country. Developing economy cannot make our life more beautiful, but also great increase the need to resources. The resources in the world are of either renewable or none renewable. Part of the energy used in energy production are basically none renewable energy which “formatted” hundreds and thousands of years ago, and need hundreds and thousand years again to “format”. Energy resources such as oil, Coal and nuclear have been used for hundreds of years and there are more researches shows there is going to be shortage of these resources in the future if nothing is done. The global demand for energy services is expected to increase by 2050, while primary-energy demands are expected to increase by 1,5 to 3 times [2]. On solution to the impending energy shortage is to make much more use of renewable energy sources and technologies. This cause is sometimes espoused with a fervor which leads to extravagant and impossible claims being made. Engineering practicality, reliability, applicability, supply scarcity, economy and public comfort should be considered accordingly. In other for the future generation to meet up with their own needs, new developments should be made to meet the present generation and the next. For this to be achieved, renewable energy comes to play a greater rule. Ultimately in the world today, energy suppliers