PRACTICAL METHODS FOR THE ESTIMATION OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER POTENTIAL OF POORLY GAUGED BASINS.

Determining the hydroelectric power potential of ungauged or poorly gauged basins gains importance parallel with the increasing electricity consumption. This study presents some simple methods to predict flow to determine the hydroelectric power potential of poorly gauged basins, such as the precipitation-elevation, average precipitation, and average basin elevation methods. Results of these methods are compared with the available flow measurements. The poorly gauged Solaklı Basin, which is located in Trabzon, in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey, is selected as the pilot area. The hydroelectric power potential of the planned small hydroelectric power plants in this area is estimated using different flow prediction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]