An Analysis of the Potential of Hydroelectric Power in Kentucky A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Science and Technology Morehead State University In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science Morehead State University by Terry White June 15, 2007 J T\ ) VI ~ I rlC-.)C:-} 3 3 3. 9 /'-; W 5 880..; Accepted by the faculty of the College of Science and Technology, Morehead State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree. l'lLJ z~rJ <11'i Director of Thesis Master's Committee: A ~~ ZQ rf e:Jr/ , Chair u Date An Analysis of Hydroelectric Power in Kentucky Terry White Morehead State University 2007 Director of Thesis: J:J/1'11 t1-J. zar 1CK ft J ABSTRACT Problem Statement The research presented in this thesis attempted to explore the possible use of hydropower as an alternative energy resource for the local area of Morehead, Kentucky and for the state of Kentucky in order to provide a possible alternative to the continued dependence on fossil fuels. This study attempted to analyze the potential energy of hydropower if it were implemented at the Triplett Creek Dam, the Cave Run Lake Dam, and at a total of various sites across the state of Kentucky. Methodology The researcher utilized different methods of analysis to address each of the four research questions. The first step in the assessment of the potential of a hydroelectric system was to determine the amount of obtainable power at all of the potential sites. The power available is a product of the flow volume, the system efficiency, and the head. Sampling and hypothesis testing were used to analyze Research Question One. Research Questions Two, Three, and Four were analyzed by a combination of known flow rates and combined with the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company's method to calculate how much energy a darn can produce (2006) and a survey from the Idaho National Laboratory's Virtual Hydropower Prospector and their Resource Database Listing for Kentucky Hydropower as illustrated in Appendix A (Conner and Franfort, 1998). Research Question One Will adequate water flow be available in Triplett Creek on a consistent basis regardless of weather conditions? Sample testing, Hypothesis testing and F-testing were used to test the hypothesis that the flow rate of Triplett Creek is consistent regardless of weather conditions. The researcher rejected the Null Hypothesis, which states that the average water flow rate is consistent all of the time regardless of the weather. The researcher accepted the Alternate Hypothesis, which states that the average water flow rate of Triplett Creek is not consistent all of the time regardless of weather conditions such as rainfall. Research Question Two What is the potential of hydroelectric power if it was implemented as an alternative energy source at the Triplett Creek Darn? It was determined that this darn could provide enough renewable energy to meet the residential needs of 149 people if a turbine and generator were added. Research Question Three What is the potential of hydroelectric power if it was implemented an alternative energy source at the Cave Run Lake Darn? lt was determined that this dam could provide enough renewable energy to meet the residential needs of 14,600 people if hydroelectric power were implemented. Research Question Four What is the potential of hydroelectric power if it was implemented as an alternative energy source at several potential sites throughout the state of Kentucky? It was determined that the implementation of hydroelectric power at all of the potential sites listed in Appendix B could provide enough renewable energy to meet the residential needs of2,666,395 people. Conclusions Hydroelectric power has great potential as an alternative energy source to supply the energy needs of Kentucky in the future. As illustrated in the analysis of Research Question Four, if all potential hydroelectric sites in Kentucky were utilized to their full ability, this would almost supply the energy needs for the entire population of the state. The Cave Run Lake Dam has great potential to provide alternative energy for the surrounding area. If some type of compromise were achieved between meeting the environmental demands and maintaining the ability to make it economically feasible to pursue this endeavor, this project could be a great benefit to the surrounding area. The same statement holds true for a micro-hydro project at the Triplett Creek Dam as well. Accepted By: _ /)-'---'-'-£-=e-J'--'-'----2'....:...o_~~J,-.::.a-'-'-t_._, _ _____, Chair ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the many people that supported me during the time spent completing this work and throughout my educational experience. I would like to thank my parents, Eddie and Carol White. Their love and support throughout my life has inspired me to become a better student as well as a better person. I would also like to thank Mr. Ken Lampkin with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at their Louisville District Office for his availability and generosity. Mr. Lampkin went beyond the call of duty provide me with information about Cave Run Lake Darn as well as other potential hydroelectric sites in Kentucky. I would also like to thank Dr. Steven Reid, Mr. David Brown Kinloch, and Secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, Teresa Hill for their assistance when I was collecting research as well. I would like to thank the members ofmy thesis committee, Dr. Benjamin Malphrus, Dr. Ronald Spangler, and especially Dr. Ahmad Zargari for their assistance and guidance throughout this project. Finally, I would like to thank my wife Patty for her love and support for the last fifteen years. She also came in handy as a timekeeper while standing in Poison Ivy and taking flow rate samples. I am lucky to have her and I would be lost without her. Table of Contents Chapter One Introduction, Research Questions Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 Statement of Problem .......................................................................... 6 Research Questions ............................................................................7 Significance of the Study ....................................................................... 7 Assumptions .......... ; ..........................................................................8 Limitations ....................................................................................... 8 Definition of Terms ............................................................................ 10 Chapter Two Reviews of Hydroelectric Power Historical Review .............................................................................. 13 Review of Hydroelectric Power ............................................................... .19 Review of Literature ...................................................................................31 Table 1 Hydropower Potential in Kentucky .................................................... .32 Chapter Three Methodology, Research Design Restatement of the Problem.................................................................. .40 Methodology .....................................................................................40 Research Design .............................................................................. .42 Research Question One ........................................................................43 Hypothesis Testing ..............................................................................43 Alternate Hypothesis ...........................................................................44 Null Hypothesis ................................................................................. .44 Population of the Study ....................................................................... .44 Research ·Question Two ........................................................................46 Research Question Three .......................................................................48 Research Question Four....................................................................... .49 Chapter Four Findings, Conclusions, Recommendations Data Analysis of Research Question One ....................................................51 Table 2 Flow Rates .............................................................................. 51 Table 3 ANOVA Model.. ..................................................................... .52 Table 4 ANOVA Chart ........................................................................ .53 Data Analysis of Research Question Two ...................................................54 Data Analysis of Research Question Three ................................................. .56 Data Analysis of Research Question Four ................................................ .58 Conclusions .....................................................................................59 Recommendations .............................................................................60 References ....................................................................................... 61 Appendix A Cave Run Lake Data............................................................................ 65 Appendix B Assessment of All Potential Hydroelectric Sites in Kentucky ............ 67 Appendix C Hydroelectric Costs ..................................................................72 Appendix D Flood Stage and Flow