Small hydropower dam site suitability modelling in upper Benue river watershed, Nigeria

Abstract Small hydropower (SHP) is one of the most critical renewable energy that well adapted to rural localities in less developed countries across world. Most communities Nigeria are off national power grid and bedevilled by an inconsistent supply electricity. The possible panacea crisis harnessing terrain abundant rivers streams within their domain. This study aimed identify select suitable sites for SHP dam upper Benue river watershed. Ten thematic layers, land use, precipitation, geology, soil, slope, elevation, stream index, topographic wetness drainage density, flow, were integrated with Geographic information system Analytical hierarchy process. A composite suitability map created revealed 7.5% watershed a very high class, while 17.5% low class. To ideal location, semi-automatic approach was narrow valleys intersecting contour order layer. Eighteen (18) potential identified after query operation done. method validated using field data which correlated model output t-Test; paired two samples mean. strong Pearson correlation 0.71 between observed. offers good prospects site selection. Based on survey, feasible economically technically construction will provide cheap millions inhabitants