Contribution to improving hydropower at the yeripao micro-dam in the republic of Benin

Hydropower is a key factor in the socioeconomic development of various regions of the Republic of Benin. This study focuses on modeling the main components of the Yéripao hydroelectric power plant in northern Benin, which has a generating capacity of 500 kW, with the aim of addressing the energy challenges hindering the region’s development while making the most of available hydropower resources. The purpose of this article is to model the various components of the power plant, namely the penstock and the hydraulic turbine. The tools of choice for addressing this type of problem are hydrological analysis and mathematical simulation models. The results focused on two cases deemed to be priorities: the 800-mm-diameter, 2,300-meter-long penstock with a flow rate of 0.8 m³/s and a head of 120 m, delivering 800 kW of hydraulic power through the turbine, and the 650-mm-diameter pipeline, 1,750 m long, with a flow rate of 0.5 m³/s and a head of 100 m, providing 420 kW of hydraulic power through the turbine. These results, which are currently preliminary, mean that the watercourse flow has not been regulated and that a reserve capacity must be set aside for the dry seasons of the year, when the hydroelectric power plant will be unable to meet the demand of the town of Yéripao. The use of this methodology has proven highly effective in finding solutions to the challenges of balancing needs and resources in developing countries. Given that the development of hydropower will play a decisive role in ensuring the stability of the electric power system in the future, policymakers will need to consider several measures to make the most of it.