Hydropower helps countries meet their energy needs in an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable way while saving money and increasing energy security and self-reliance. Being one of the fastest developing countries, electricity demand of Turkey has been increasing and is expected to increase in the future. Untapped hydropower potential is among the prospective alternative resources to supply this demand. Developing a hydropower project requires a great deal of expertise in multiple disciplines. RETScreen software developed by CanmetENERGY helps the planners and decision makers to assess the feasibility of renewable energy projects at the pre-feasibility and feasibility stages. This study is an application of RETScreen to assess the feasibility of alternative formulations for Niksar HEPP, a small hydropower project which is under construction in Turkey. Three alternative formulations are generated and their economic performances are evaluated and compared. First, optimum design discharges are calculated and then economical analysis is conducted for various electricity export rates by RETScreen for all the alternatives. This study provides a detailed literature review on hydropower and its economical, social and environmental aspects, and shows how RETScreen can be used in assessing the economical feasibilities of the current formulation for Niksar HEPP and its alternative schemes.

Renewable energy sources are getting much more important to reduce the increasing threat coming from greenhouse gases. Hydropower is the most important source of renewable energy. However, development of a hydropower project is a challenging engineering process. Several computer programs have been developed to make initial estimations on hydropower schemes. A computer program named RETScreen Small Hydro Project Model has been developed with the objective to make complete pre-feasibility studies including costing and financial analysis. Two case studies, which have been under construction in Turkey, will be used to check the accuracy of software in Turkish practice. Then in light of the results, RETScreen software will be used to make a pre-feasibility report on an existing multipurpose dam in Turkey. Electricity can be generated at existing dams which requires minor civil works. Porsuk Dam which is a 36 year old dam used for domestic, industrial and irrigation water supply will be evaluated for energy generation by constructing a penstock, powerhouse and installing electromechanical equipment.