The aim of research is the investigation of assessment of hydropower resources and prospects of development of small hydropower at existing hydraulic structures (GTS), water works (VKHS) of Rostov region. At the present stage of industrial and agricultural production development in the South and the North Caucasus region the use of renewable energy sources (RES)is of great importance, in particular hydropower potential of small watercourses and hydraulic structures of water systems. With the help of system analysis of water works in Rostov region the locations for small hydropower stations at existing hydraulic structures were justified. On the basis of field surveys and completed water and energy calculations based on the study of topographic maps (scale 1:10000 or 1:25000) an assessment of hydropower resources of hydraulic structures network in Rostov region is performed. 16 functioning hydraulic structures are promising sites for small hydropower plants of water complex of Rostov region. Indicators of total power and power generation of small hydropower stations are tentatively estimated as 66.6 MW (or 570 million kW•h) per year. Currently water and energy calculations were done, the main hydraulic turbine equipment choice was carried out and small hydropower station cost calculations were performed. Accordingly, by implementation of a possible development plan for the use of renewable energy at small hydropower plants in Rostov region until 2020, the replacement of fossil fuels will reach 1.0 million tons of equivalent fuel each year, and natural gas volume replacement is about 1 billion cubic meters per year. It should be emphasized that the use of small hydropower plants on the basis of the existing hydraulic structures will reduce the cost of electricity consumed for irrigation of agricultural land and the work of water supply systems.
Keywords: renewable energy, small hydroelectric power stations, hydraulic structures, water management system, small watercourses, basin geosystem, electric energy.
