1. PROJECT TITLE
Lower Vrbas Hydropower Plants
2. SECTOR
Energy
3. LOCATION
The lower course of the Vrbas, i.e. the stretch from the city of Banja Luka to the mouth of the Vrbas, is planned to accommodate the construction of four hydropower plants: Trn HPP, Laktasi HPP, Kosjerevo HPP and Razboj HPP.
On this section, the Vrbas is about 69 m long and has the available head of 62 m. All planned hydropower plants are located in the territory of the city of Banja Luka.
Satellite image of the hydropower plants: Trn HPP, Kosjerevo HPP, Laktasi HPP and Razboj HPP
4. BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The first data about the use of the hydropower potential of the lower course of the Vrbas River were made for the needs of the preparation of the Water Management Master Plan in 1987. The main feature of this section of the Vrbas River is that it can accommodate the construction of four hydropower plants of small reservoir volumes to be formed for the needs of the head. All four hydropower plants are of run-of-the-river type with derivation canals. Each solution includes a low concrete dam to direct the water into the derivation canal planned to enable navigation.
The Water Management Master Plan enabled providing basic information about the potential locations for hydropower plants, which were subsequently tested for the needs of various users.
An integral water and energy study of the development of the Vrbas River basin was prepared in 2013, as an amendment to the Water Management Master Plan.
An overview of the technical and energy features of the hydropower plants according to the Water Management Master Plan is given below.
TRN HPP
The dam of the Trn HPP comprises an intake structure, a supply canal in the right side and four run-of-the-river fields with low concrete thresholds used for the evacuation of the high thousand-year waters.
The storage reservoir is of insignificant volume and 5.15 km long. To provide the elevation of the normal operating level of 145 masl, which is at the same also the maximum backwater elevation, it is necessary to build embankments along the reservoir in order to avoid flooding fertile areas and settlements. The embankments need to be about 4.00 km long on the left bank and about 1.00 km long on the right bank, of maximum height of 7.00 m. On the right
bank, about 2.00 km of the existing road need to be super elevated. For water supply to the turbines, a 1450.00 m long supply canal is planned along the edge of the field. Normal water depth in the canal is 5.00 m.
In the end of the supply canal there is an above ground engine room which accommodates two generators with Kaplan turbines and other electromechanical equipment.
Trn HPP general information
|
HPP name |
Type of plant | Qi (m3/s) | Hbr (m) | Pi (KW) | Esr (GWh/god) |
NBE (masl) |
|
Trn |
Run-of-the-river-derivation | 160.00 | 18.00 | 24.01 | 139.90 |
145.00 |
Energy features of the hydropower plant:
| Mean annual flow | 116.32 m3 /s |
| Normal backwater elevation | 145.00 m |
| Elevation of minimum operating level | 142.00 m |
| Tailwater elevation | 127.00 m |
| Gross head Hb | 18.00 m |
| Net head Hn | 17.45 m |
| Installed power Pi | 24.01 MW |
| Number of generators | 2 |
LAKTASI HPP
Downstream from the town of Klasnice to the mouth, the river Vrbas runs through the Lijevce Field and the Srbacko-Nozicka Plain, with many meanders and a very mild head of 0.73‰. The total head at those lowest 53.00 m downstream is 39.00 m.
The project task for the preparation of the Water Management Master Plan of the Vrbas River Basin provides also for an analysis of the possibility of navigation. The proposed variant foresees a pier in Klasnice, which is why the solution for hydropower use of the water on this stretch had to be adjusted to the requirements of navigation.
For that purpose, two variants were analyzed:
- The first variant with six toe-of-dam hydropower plants in a series, so that the tailwater of the upstream hydropower plant is at the same time also the head water of the downstream hydropower plant,
- The second variant with three derivation and canal hydropower plants.
The second variant was adopted and elaborated, with three hydropower plants of identical gross heads (13.0 m) and identical installed power. These are Laktasi HPP, Kosjerevo HPP and Razboj HPP.
The construction of the dam and side embankments would form a 4.60 km long storage reservoir of minimum volume required for the safe operation of the hydropower plant. The maximum height of the embankment is 4.50 m and its length is planned to be about 8.50 m. The embankments to form this reservoir and the two downstream hydropower plants are of the same features as for the upstream hydropower plant.
The dam comprises an intake structure, a supply canal in the left bank and four run-of-the river fields with low concrete thresholds.
The dimensions of the canal are set based on navigation requirements.
The supply canal is 18.00 m long and of trapeze cross-section. The supply canal is planned in the embankment, of minimum height of 6.00 m, and maximum of 8.00 m. The crest of the embankment is 1.00 m above the elevation of the maximum level. The supply canal lets the waters up to the size of the installed streamflow, and any higher water streamflow is let through the run-of-the-river fields into the bed of the river Vrbas.
The tailrace is 4300.00 m long and it is planned to be made throughout the length in the cutting.
The engine room is above ground and it is planned to accommodate two generators with Kaplan turbines and other electromechanical equipment. Along with the engine room, construction of a ship lock is planned as its integral part.
Laktasi HPP general information
|
HPP name |
Type of plant | Qi (m3/s) | Hbr (m) | Pi (KW) | Esr (GWh/god) |
NBE (masl) |
|
Laktasi |
Run-of-the-river-derivation | 160.00 | 13.00 | 16.18 | 95.20 |
127.00 |
Energy features of the hydropower plant:
| Mean annual flow | 121.65 m3 /s |
| Normal backwater elevation | 127.00 m |
| Elevation of minimum operating level | 126.00 m |
| Tailwater elevation | 114.00 m |
| Gross head Hb | 13.00 m |
| Net head Hn | 12.34 m |
| Installed power Pi | 16.18 MW |
| Number of generators | 2 |
KOSJEREVO HPP
The Kosjerevo HPP is a run-of-the-river-derivation plant. The dam comprises an intake structure, a supply canal in the left bank and four run-of-the-river fields. The run-of-the-river fields are used to evacuate high waters as well as any water higher than the installed streamflow into the bed of the river Vrbas.
The storage reservoir is formed by the construction of embankments and it is of minimum volume to enable the safe operation of the hydropower plant. The length of the reservoir is 6.45 km. To form the reservoir it is necessary to build 8.00 km long embankments of maximum height of 8.00 m. The embankments need to be built because the banks of the river Vrbas are low in this most downstream, plain lower course. The other features of the embankments are the same as for the two upstream hydropower plants.
The supply canal is 1400.00 m long and of trapeze cross-section, planned in the embankments.
The minimum height of the embankment is 2.50 m, and it is maximum at the engine room – 8.00 m. Other features of the tailrace are the same as for the upstream hydropower plant. The engine room is above ground and it is planned to accommodate three generators with Kaplan turbines and other electromechanical equipment. Along with the engine room, a ship lock is planned as its integral part.
Kosjerevo HPP general information:
|
HPP name |
Type of plant | Qi (m3/s) | Hbr (m) | Pi (KW) | Esr (GWh/god) |
NBE (masl) |
|
Kosjerevo |
Run-of-the-river-derivation | 160.00 | 13.00 | 13.30 | 102.20 |
114.00 |
Energy features of the hydropower plant:
| Mean annual flow | 125.29 m3 /s |
| Normal backwater elevation | 114.00 m |
| Elevation of minimum operating level | 113.00 m |
| Tailwater elevation | 101.00 m |
| Gross head Hb | 13.00 m |
| Net head Hn | 12.34 m |
| Installed power Pi | 13.3 MW |
| Number of generators | 2 |
RAZBOJ HPP
The most downstream planned hydropower plant on the river Vrbas is the Razboj HPP, with the elevation of the normal and maximum operating level of 101.00 masl and the tailwater of 88.00 masl.
The dam of this hydropower plant, like those of the three upstream hydropower plants, comprises an intake structure, a supply canal and four spillway fields dimensioned to evacuate the high thousand-year waters of 2360.00 m3/s.
The storage reservoir is 4.70 km long and due to the low banks it is necessary to make the embankments 6.50 km long, of maximum height of 7.0 m, and of other features as those of the embankments around the upstream reservoirs.
For the supply canal and the tailrace, everything is the same as for the two upstream hydropower plants; they only differ in lengths and heights of embankments and cuttings.
The supply canal is 2200.00 m long, with maximum embankment height of 6.50 m.
The tailrace is 2500.00 m long with maximum height of the cutting at the engine room of 11.00 m.
The engine room is also above ground, with two generators and Kaplan turbines, whose power depends on the considered variant of the hydropower use of waters, and it is the same as for the two upstream hydropower plants. The engine room is planned to accommodate also other turbine and generator equipment. Construction of a ship lock is planned as an integral part of the engine room.
Razboj HPP general information:
|
HPP name |
Type of plant | Qi (m3/s) | Hbr (m) | Pi (KW) | Esr (GWh/god) |
NBE (masl) |
|
Razboj |
Run-of-the-river-derivation | 160.00 | 13.00 | 16.87 | 102.10 |
101.00 |
Energy features of the hydropower plant:
| Mean annual flow | 126.65 m3 /s |
| Normal backwater elevation | 101.00 m |
| Elevation of minimum operating level | 100.00 m |
| Tailwater elevation | 88.00 m |
| Gross head Hb | 13.00 m |
| Net head Hn | 12.26 m |
| Installed power Pi | 16.87 MW |
| Number of generators | 2 |
5. PROJECT DETAILS
5.1 What type of project is it?
5.2 Project status
The hydropower use of the Vrbas river basin was considered in various studies of integral use of water resources in the Vrbas basin. The highest importance for the lower course of the Vrbas lies with the Water Management Master Plan of the Vrbas River Basin of 1987. The main problem regarding the use of the data given in this document lies in the fact that a lot of time has elapsed since its preparation and that the changes (social, environmental, legislative, etc.) that have happened in the meantime must be taken into account, since they can affect the planned solutions.
Therefore, the Water Management Master Plan of the Vrbas River Basin was updated in 2013 (Cowi AS Norway) in order to evaluate various development options of water resources and hydropower development in the Vrbas basin. In order to plan specific investments, this study recommends preparing a full feasibility study for each hydropower plant, as well as a social and an environmental impact assessment.
5.3 Reasons to invest in the project
Electricity is an asset just like any other merchandise, and therefore it has its market price.
Demand for electricity in the world, including also this region, is rapidly growing. Under the conditions of a deregulated market, the “meeting of own needs” is certainly not the only criterion for construction of new plants.
In the overall valorization of the project of the Lower Vrbas HPPS, it should be borne in mind that in addition to electricity generation, this hydropower system with its technical solutions would enable also navigation in the derivation canals.
6. PROJECT FINANCING:
6.1 Estimated project value in €
According to the data from the study “Concession Model of Construction of Energy Facilities in the Republic of Srpska” (Energo Nor, August 2000), the estimated investments for hydropower plants on the Lower Vrbas are as follows:
- Trn HPP 154.44 million US$
- Laktasi HPP 119.21 million US$
- Kosjerevo HPP 78.46 million US$
- Razboj HPP 86.48 million US$
That is, the estimated total investment for the Lower Vrbas HPPS amounts to 438.59 million US$ (data of 2000)
6.2 Planned sources of financing
The RS Energy Development Strategy provides for various models of financing in the energy sector:
- Public financing – this implies a dominant role of the public sector, i.e. financing based on the existing capital accumulation of the Mixed Holding and its subsidiaries, combined with loan funds,
- Mixed financing – partnership between the public and the private sector and
- Private financing – investing by private companies due to limited financing opportunities of the public sector, aimed at market liberalization.
6.3 Inputs by local partner
6.4 Inputs by investor
7. Has physical location for project implementation been identified
The run-of-the-river-derivation plant Trn HPP is foreseen on the stretch of the Vrbas River from the Delibasino Selo HPP to the town of Klasnice, about 12.40 km long. The dam of the Trn HPP is near the town of Trn, at chainage 58.100 km.
The construction of the Laktasi HPP is foreseen downstream from the town of Klasnice, in Lijevce Field, at chainage 48.400 km of the river Vrbas.
The Kosjerevo HPP stretches from chainage 40.25 to 24.40 m of the Vrbas River, i.e. at the length of 15.85 km. The dam of the Kosjerevo HPP is foreseen immediately downstream from the town of Kosjerevo at chainage 33.800 km of the Vrbas River, in the area of the vast plain of the Lijevce Field and the Srbacko-Nozicka Plain.
The area of the Razboj HPP plant covers the length of 13.10 km, from chainage 25.200 to chainage 12.10 km, and the downstream section of the river Vrbas which needs to be developed for those needs is under the backwater of the Sava River. The dam of the Razboj HPP is foreseen at chainage 20.500 km, within the lowest river alluvial plain through which the Vrbas meanders.
8. Have the activities on project implementation already started
9. Project applicant and contact information
Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining
Trg Republike Srpske 1, 78 000 Banja Luka
Telephone: +387 51 339 581
Fax: +387 51 339 651
E-mail: mier@mier.vladars.net
