Multi-parameter Observation and Real-time Risk Assessment of Hydropower Plants in the Kyrgyz Republic

The infrastructure of hydropower plants in the Kyrgyz Republic is very prone to failure. The reason for this is the fact that it is largely based on obsolete systems. In particular, natural hazards such as earthquakes and landslides represent risks to the facilities today. Novel structural and environmental monitoring systems can help detect structural changes to dams and their slope environment in real time and inform decision makers in an emergency. The German-Kyrgyz joint project MI-DAM is continuing to develop these systems at the Kurpsai Dam in central Kyrgyzstan.

Risk analysis and early-warning system for Kyrgyz hydropower plants

In the Kyrgyz Republic, low maintenance and severe climatic fluctuations have made existing hydropower infrastructure very vulnerable to failure. Currently, there is no continuous, precise and comprehensive hazard and risk analysis of the entire plant infrastructure. The MI-DAM project is developing innovative methods for monitoring the dam systems of hydroelectric power plants and their surrounding slopes as well as a real-time early-warning system in the event of a damage event.

Using the Kurpsai Dam in central Kyrgyzstan as an example, a robust, cost-effective and adaptable system for risk monitoring and analysis will be developed. It will continuously monitor the condition of the dam and the surrounding slopes and process the records locally. An early-warning system should forward the user-relevant information to the appropriate operations centres, such as dam operators and the Ministry of Civil Protection.

Use of an innovative combination of methods and training of local actors

The existing infrastructure of the dam and its slope environment will be analysed and modelled in detail to implement the project. So-called fragility curves are calculated, which describe the occurrence of possible damage for individual infrastructure objects, e.g. due to a strong earthquake. The slope environment of the dam will be studied in terms of the likelihood of slope failure due to ground movements. The installation of novel cost-effective multi-parameter sensors will provide a system for the continuous and long-term monitoring and prediction of earthquake-induced ground vibrations, structural deformations and the like. This includes the implementation of efficient systems for data transmission and decision-making. In addition, the development of a prototype software for real-time risk analysis for both the monitored slopes and the dam is one of the planned measures.