British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies:

## Engineering and Technology, 4(3),21-30, 2023

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## Characterization of Climatic Parameters and River Flow Capacity on

## Electricity Generation in Jebba Dam, Nigeria

## Hadiza Muhammad Liman

Department of Geography, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria

## Peace Nwaerema

Department of Geography, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria

## Jacob Yisa

Department of Geography, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria

## doi: [https://doi.org/10.37745/bjmas.2022.0204](https://doi.org/10.37745/bjmas.2022.0204) Published May 29, 2023

**Citation: Characterization of Climatic Parameters and River Flow Capacity on Electricity Generation in Jebba Dam,** Nigeria, British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies: Engineering and Technology, 4(3),21-30

## ABSTRACT: This study examined the characterization of climatic parameters and river flow

_capacity on electricity generation in Jebba Dam, Nigeria. It is a known fact that climatic_ _parameters of rainfall, temperature and evaporation have the capacity to influence reservoir_ _inflow and outflow as well as hydropower generation. The study collected secondary data of_ _climatic parameters, reservoir inflow and outflow as well as hydropower generation from_ _Mainstream Energy Solution Limited in 2018. The data were analyzed using averages and_ _represented in graphs and charts. The results showed that there was rise in power generation from_ _July to December with November having the highest power generation of 432.5MWH. Reservoir_ _inflow and outflow rose from July to December with September having the highest discharge of_ _4860m3/sec inflow and 4858 m3/sec outflow. There was noticeable rise in rainfall pattern from_ _May to November with September having the highest rainfall regime of 330.4mm in the Jebba_ _river basin. However, February and November had the highest temperature regime of 36_ _0_ _C each_ _in the Jebba river basin. The highest evaporation rate was recorded in March having 25m3/sec_ _during the period. Finally, the study has revealed the effects of these climatic parameters on the_ _reservoir flow and hydropower generation in the Jebba dam. Therefore, the government should_ _strictly consider the phenomenon of climate change as it affects hydroelectric power generation_ _in Nigeria without further delay._

**KEYWORDS:** climatic parameters, river flow capacity, electricity generation, Jebba dam, Nigeria

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INTRODUCTION

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Globally, there is the urgent need for electric power generation due to industrialization,
overpopulation and urbanization. Also, climatic parameters such as rainfall, temperature and
evaporation have the capacity to influence any reservoir inflow and outflow as well as hydropower
generation of a dam \[1\]. Indeed, precipitation and other climatic variables have direct influence
on the performance of reservoir inflow and outflow which is capable of affecting hydropower
generation \[2\]. According to \[3\] hydroelectric power generation has a close relationship with
precipitation as 43% rise in precipitation may give rise to 39% hydroelectric power generation.
Resultantly, climate change and global warming phenomena have direct impact on climatic
parameters such as precipitation that is linked to hydropower generation \[4\]. It is important to
explore the correlation and influence of climatic parameters such as rainfall, temperature and
evaporation on the changes of hydropower discharge of dams across the world. The need to
undertake study on effects of climatic variables on hydropower generation is due to the fact that
there is rising global energy demand which will double from the year 2007 to 2035 \[5\]. Thus, the
population of the world will rise to 10 billion persons in the year 2050 and above 11.2 billion in
the year 2100 \[6\].

The importance of the use of hydropower can be in the form of home and industrial lightening,
heating, cooling, operation of appliances, use of electronics, machinery and public transport.
Today, the United States has a total electric power consumption rate of 3.93 trillion kwh and 13
times greater than electricity use in 1950 \[7\]. This is an indication that countries across the world
are in great need of electricity supply which the hydropower dams can contribute immensely to
actualize this electricity goal. However, some of the failures of hydropower generation can be in
the form of natural causes, human error and overload \[8\]. Thus, any interruption between power
generation point and supply point can result to power outage. Most importantly, weather conditions
have the basic effects to the operations of hydro electric dams \[9\].

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British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies: Engineering and Technology, 4(3),21-30, 2023 Print ISSN: 2517-276X Online ISSN: 2517-2778 [https://bjmas.org/index.php/bjmas/index](https://bjmas.org/index.php/bjmas/index) Published by the European Centre for Research Training and Development UK parameters. Solar radiation is on the rise thereby altering the heat budget of the environment leading to more consumption of electricity and other energy sources. These climatic conditions will influence the reservoir performance hence affecting the operations of hydroelectric power dams \[11\]. Therefore, this study explores the characterization of climatic parameters and river flow capacity on electricity generation in Jebba Dam, Nigeria.

**METHODOLOGY** Jebba Hydroelectric Power Station is located within within latitudes 9 o 10’N to 9 o 55’ N and longitudes 4 o 30’E to 5 o 00’E (Figures 1 and 2). The area where the Jebba Dam is situated is 76 meters above Sea Level (SL). This location is approximately 100 kilometers downstream of Kainji dam \[12\]. Thus, Jebba hydro electric dam is the third dam in Nigeria with power generation capacity of 578MW, having six turbines producing 96.4MW each. The turbine power output is distributed to over 364,000 households having operating-head of 27.6m. The Jebba turbine is connected to a generator of 119MVA maximum continuous rating and 103.50MVA base load rating. \[12\]. Data for this study were collected from Mainstream Energy Solution Limited, Hydro- Power Plant, Jebba in 2018 for analysis. The data sets were reservoir inflow and outflow, power generation, rainfall and temperature as well as evaporation conditions of the Jebba hydropower reservoir station. The data were converted to averages and displayed in charts and graphs as well as discussed.

Figure 1. Map of Niger State in Nigeria

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Figure 2: Location of Jebba Dam in Mokwa LGA of Niger State

RESULTS
The result in Figure 3 showed the trend in power generation from January to December. There was

The result in Figure 3 showed the trend in power generation from January to December. There was
rise in power generation from July to December with November having the highest power output
of 432.5 MWH. In Nigeria This period use to be raining season indicating that there was increased
power generation during the season. However, from January to June had low power generaation
with the month of June having the least power output of 185MWH indicating that dry season
affected the amount of power generation in the Jebba dam.

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Figure 3. Power Generation from January to December (2018)

The result in figure 4 indicated the river inflow and outflow pattern. Reservoir inflow and outflow
rose from July to December with September having the highest discharge of 4860 m3/Sec inflow
and 4858 m3/Sec outflow. These months with highest inflow and outflow are majorly raining
season months in the river basin. However, January to June had very low inflow and outflow with
June having the least regime of 791 and 789 m3/Sec. These months are found in the dry season of
the year indicating that season influences the rate of Jebba dam water inflow and outflow
conditions. The result indicated that inflow and outflow of the dam had the same pattern as they
were skewed to July and December of the study period.

4860;\\mathrm{m}^{3}/\\mathrm{S e c}

4858\ \\mathrm{m}^{3}/\\mathrm{S e c}

789;\\mathrm{m}^{3}/\\mathrm{S e c}

Figure 4. River Inflow and Outflow from January to December (2018)

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The result of Figure 5 showed the rainfall pattern of the Jebba dam catchment area. Thus,
December to April had the lowest pattern of rainfall in the river basin. However, there was
noticeable rise in rainfall pattern from May to November with September having the highest
rainfall regime of 330.4mm. There was fluctuation of rainfall pattern as the rainfall rose from May
to July, dropped in August and rose again in September and finally reduced to zero in November.
Thus, rainfall regime had the capacity to influence the Jebba hydroelectric power generation.

Figure 5. Rainfall Pattern from January to December (2018)

According to the result obtained in figure 6 indicating the temperature pattern of the Jebba river
0
basin; February and November had the highest temperature regime of 36 C each. However, July
0
and August months had the least temperature regime of 30 C each respectively. The annual
temperature pattern showed that it rose from January to February and dropped in July and August
and rose again from September to November and continually dropped in December. The
temperature of a river basin has the capacity to influence the inflow and outflow as well as the
power generation capacity of a dam at a particular period in time.

36^{0}\\mathrm{C}

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Figure 6. Temperature Pattern from January to December (2018)

Figure 7 showed the evaporation pattern of the Jebba river basin. The highest evaporation rate was
recorded in March having 25m3/sec, due to the fact that March is the month of intense dry season.
The least evaporation rate was recorded in October having 11.4m3/sec, showing the beginning of
the hamattern season in northern Nigeria usually with low temperature regime. The annual
evaporation pattern showed that it started rising from January to March and dropped to October
and rose again from October to November.

25\\mathrm{m}^{3}/\\mathrm{s e c}

11.4\\mathfrak{m}^{3}/\\mathfrak{s e c}

Figure 7. Evaporation Pattern from January to December (2018)

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DISCUSSION

This study has shown the trends in climatic parameters (rainfall, temperature and evaporation) in
the Jebba dam river basin of Nigeria in 2018. The fluctuation of inflow and outflow as well as
power generation is influenced by the trends of the climatic variables. In the same vein, \[13\]
investigated the effects of change in climate on the Jebba river basin. The research showed notable
changes in the Jebba river basin where rainfall and relative humidity actually influenced the
availability of water in the river basin. Thus, this revealed that climatic variables have very great
influence on reservoir characteristics. The result indicated both positive and negative effects of
climatic parameters on reservoir performance for hydropower generation. During the period of this
study, the result showed that there was increased power generation during the raining season (July
to November). The months of January to June marked the months with low generation of
electricity. This is similar to the findings of \[14\] which showed that months of high reservoir flow
will influence the amount of electricity generation within a given period of time of dam’s
operation.

River inflow and outflow (July to November), rainfall pattern (May to October), temperature
(October to April) and evaporation (November to April) showed that the patterns of these climatic
variables influenced the Jebba power generation. Similarly, \[15\] investigated the influence of
climatic variables on reservoir performance in Jebba dam. It was noted that over the decades,
rainfall, river discharge and flooding had strong influence on the hydropower generation. Also,
\[16\] studied the effects of climatic parameters on the performance of hydroelectric power dam
using a simulation model. The result indicated that negative climatic parameter such as rainfall
will result in decrease and shortening of hydroelectric power peak period with decreasing value
which will make power to drop within 12% from June to December and rise by around 4% in the
rest of the months. These are indications that performance of reservoir in a dam basin is impacted
by various climatic parameters, inflow and outflow conditions at a given period of operation.

CONCLUSION

This study undertook the characterization of climatic parameters and river flow capacity on
electricity generation in Jebba Dam, Nigeria. The study has revealed the level in which climatic
parameters have influenced the Jebba hydropower generation. The pattern and interaction of
rainfall, temperature and evaporation have impacted on reservoir inflow and outflow as well as
hydropower generation. These climatic variables have shown important reservoir inflow and
outflow conditions. The result has established that Jebba dam does have hydropower generation

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