HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF HYDRO POWER IN THE UPPER BASIN OF THE ARGES RIVER, ROMANIA

Laura Ana Mititelu, Romanian Waters National Administration, Water Directorate Argeş-Vedea, Pitesti, Romania

Abstract

Harnessing of water resources for various purposes (hydropower, water supply, irrigation, fishing, leisure, etc.) represents an area of great interest, with broad implications for impact and environmental protection. Arges River Basin is a place with high hydroelectric potential, but also for other uses, especially, river Arges, was the target of several hydro facilities. Ever since the 60's of the twentieth century, the developed hydraulic works (dams and adduct) Vidraru lake has been one’s of the almost important hydro power in Romania (located in the Carpathian Mountains, dam 166 m, among the top 30 of world, vol. 465.mil.mc, underground hydroelectric power with a power of 220 MW, depending on hydro power and drinking water. Later, the development plan of Arges was extended far downstream of Lake Vidraru longer (up to Golesti ), still 9 lakes and 14 power plants. Beginning in 2011, following Romania's commitments to the European Commission to green energy related, has started a project to build MHC’S, a project to harness the energy potential of the river tributaries in Vidraru Lake. So, are proposed for development on the rivers Capra - 5 MHC, the Buda - 4 and 1 the Otic MHC, totaling an installed capacity of 14.7 MW, that may be used by about 30,000 families .
This paper presents the current scheme and the proposed development and the pros / cons and green energy on this issue in recent years.

Keywords: hydropower potential, green energy, MHC’s, Vidraru