PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Hydro power is one of the renewable sources of energy which plays a significant role in the development of any country. Ranoli Branch Canal splits from Sakarda Branch Canal, one of the branch canals of Narmada Main Canal. The objective of this study is to find the best location for a small hydro power project out of four feasible locations on Ranoli Branch, using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)-weighted sum method. Result of weighted sum method has been validated using PROMETHEE method. The problem has been evaluated based on criteria for project cost, rated power, distance of the power house to the grid line, distance of the power house to the road, and distance of the power house to the village, and four canal fall locations, at chainage 7525 m, 9825 m, 17367 m, and 19844 m, as alternatives. The project cost was calculated by designing hydro power components (using Indian Standards Guideline) and applying actual market rates. The distance of the power house to the grid line, road, and village were obtained with the Google Play Store application called 'Map Distance Ruler Lite'. Optimisation resulted in the best location for hydro power generation in each canal. The fourth alternative, A4 at chainage 19844 m, is the best location.