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AEC Markets
AEC Experience
Profession: Hydrologist, Water Resources Engineer
Experience: 34 years
Qualifications:
Year of Birth: 1945
Nationality: British
Languages: English (mother tongue)
Michael has extensive experience in the investigation and planning of water development projects in the UK, Africa and South-East Asia. He has broad experience of river basin planning and hydrology in both arid and humid regions, is a specialist in computer applications for hydrology and water resources analyses and in particular the mathematical simulation of reservoir and river systems. He has developed some 50 standard application programs ranging from data transfer/processing to reservoir simulation.
He has also been responsible for the supervision of the construction of a flood control scheme for a major copper mine in Zambia.
Hydrology, Water resources, Hydro-electric power modelling, Computer simulation
Reservoir Simulation Programs. Responsible for the development of a suite of programs for the analysis of reservoir yield and behaviour patterns, including rule curve derivation and filling probability.
Mepanda Uncua (2000 MW) and Cahora Basse North Extension (550 MW), Mozambique. Member of international team set up to investigate future hydropower development on the Zambezi River, Mozambique. Responsible for simulation modelling of a river/reservoir system (total catchment area of 1 million sq. km.) using HEC-5. Studies included modelling of existing system (stand alone and conjunctive), new schemes, raising existing dam or increasing spillway capacity etc,. Flood routing analyses were also carried out.
Power Study Malawi. Planning study intended to examine options available for power system expansion. Lake Malawi (surface area of 29,600 km2) is the major element in the present system, regulating three hydropower schemes on the Shire River. Responsible for assessment of runoff for Lake Malawi and five other rivers, together with estimation of flood peaks and likely sediment loads.
Allai Khwar Hydroelectric Project, Pakistan. Hydropower modelling (using HEC-5) of Allai Khwar project (163 MW, 700 m head) and a cascade on the adjacent Chor Nala river (three reservoirs, 2,050 m total head, 1,550 MW total capacity).
Kariba Dam Valuation, Zimbabwe. Study aimed at establishing, inter alia, the economic value of the water resources of the lake. Review and update of inflow record, to take into account the recent sequence of low flow years. Determination of average/firm energies using HEC-5.
Power System Study, Lao PDR. The objective of the study was to prepare least cost development plan. Responsible for assessment of runoff sequences, flood peaks and sediment loads for over twenty sites throughout Lao. This was followed by reservoir modelling (HEC-5) of the majority of the sites in order to determine average/firm energies.
Shanxi Water Conservancy Project, China. Review of hydrological studies undertaken for a multipurpose development (water supply, irrigation, hydropower) consisting of one large dam and a downstream barrage, (providing total of 220 MW). Primary work was focused on catchment runoff, design floods and sediment yield.
Hongjiadu Hydroelectric Project, China. Responsible for: review of hydrological design for a 540 MW hydropower project in Guizhou Province; energy modelling of three reservoir cascade in order to define energy uplift for proposed scheme.
Nam Theun 2 HEP, Laos. Water Resources Engineer in Lender's Engineer team assessing the technical, commercial and environmental aspects of a 681 MW private hydropower scheme in Central Laos, supplying electricity to EGAT on behalf of a consortium of banks. Responsible for review and first principle checks on the mean and firm flow series, reservoir operations modelling and flood hydrology, with particular consideration of the impact of drought sequences in energy output.
Fujian Mianhuatan Hydropower Project, China. Water Resources Engineer appointed by Asian Development Bank to appraise studies for 600 MW hydropower projects in Fujian Province. Work undertaken in China included a detailed review of reservoir inflows, flood estimates, sedimentation, together with a check on generation studies using both monthly and 10 day models.
Tinguiririca Hydropower Project, Chile. Prefeasibility study of 100 MW private sector hydropower project south of Santiago. Responsible for evaluation of: flow estimates; flood peaks; likely sediment loads using sparse data; derivation of relationships using short daily/monthly records for run-of-river locations; development of hydropower simulation model.
Pantabangan Multipurpose Enhancement Project, Philippines (1994). Hydrologist and system modeller on a BOT scheme involving inter-basin transfer to an existing reservoir; project will provide 140 MW of hydroelectric power plus additional irrigation. Estimated project cost: US$ 320 million. Responsible for:
Houay Ho Hydropower Project, Lao PDR. Project hydrologist for 115 MW BOT scheme (now constructed) on the Bolaven Plateau in southern Lao PDR. Responsible for estimation of mean annual rainfall, evaporation, monthly flow series, design floods and sedimentation in a region with extremely sparse data.
Power Development Study, Micronesia, Western Pacific. Project hydrologist for studies aimed at improving the reliability of power supplies on two islands (Pohnpei and Kosrae). Responsible for:
Kapichira Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, Malawi. Project Hydrologist on international team responsible for:
Ewaso Ngiro (South) Multipurpose Study, Kenya. Responsible for:
Arror Project, Kenya. Supervision of review and updating of all hydrological aspects connected with a proposed 1100 m head hydro-electric project. A river transfer option was identified, allowing the installed capacity to be doubled to 140 MW. Regulated releases can be used to support 1500 ha of irrigation in the Kerio valley.
Rural Dams Rehabilitation, Swaziland. Technical expert, responsible for assessment of flood hydrology for numerous rural dams (up to 17 m high) in the Swaziland lowveld, following extensive damage caused by cyclone Domoina.
Mahalapye Dam, Botswana. Management of hydrology team for the study of a water supply system which could be used both as a local and regional resource. Owing to its semi-arid climate (rainfall = 450 mm, evaporation = 2000 mm), hydrological studies were particularly difficult. However, a monthly rainfall/runoff model worked surprisingly well, even though the annual runoff coefficient was only 3%. Flood studies for the spillway design included assessment of the PMF. Assessment of groundwater resources was also undertaken.
Water Supply, Spain. Development of a computer simulation model used to investigate system security for a mining complex in Southern Spain. The model includes four reservoirs and allows for both pumped and gravity transfer. Program converted to run on client's mini-computer (using FORTRAN) and then on IBM PC/XT (under BASICA).
River Basin Planning, Malaysia. Project hydrologist on river basin planning study in the Ulu Jelai River basin, Peninsular Malaysia. Responsible for the preliminary evaluation of river flows in a previously ungauged catchment, and the establishment of a new flow gauging network using solid state recorders. Software developed to enable half-hourly water levels to be downloaded and stored on HP216 for subsequent conversion to river flows. Programs translated to operate on client's IBM PC-compatible. Estimation of sediment inflow included identification of cultivated areas using satellite imagery.
Development of daily system model used to determine energy benefits of adopted scheme.
Butembo-Beni Hydro-Power Project, Zaire. Review consultant for hydrological studies. Very short flow records extended by use of rainfall/runoff model in order to confirm mean runoff for run-of-river scheme.
Tailings Disposal, Papua New Guinea. Investigation of flood control scheme on Ok Ningi, for Ok Tedi Mining Ltd. Extensive flood routing studies were undertaken for different stages of tailings dam development in order to ensure the safety of the dam under PMF conditions.
Sabah Power Development Study, Malaysia. Project hydrologist on the overall assessment of hydro-electric power resources in Sabah, including the estimation of runoff at 68 potential sites, based on data from 20 key gauging stations. Preliminary estimates of diversion and spillway design floods were also made for each site. Additional studies included a computer simulation of the power/energy characteristics of a recently constructed run-of-river hydro-electric scheme, in order to assess the likely benefits of upstream regulatory storage.
Munkumpu Irrigation Scheme, Zambia. Supervision of hydrological studies which included estimation of flood flows and crop water requirements for a potential development of 5000 ha of wheat.
Mulungushi Reservoir, Zambia. Preparation of simulation model used to study long-term behaviour of reservoir for different power demands. Model modified to include a second (upstream) reservoir which will provide a direct water supply to Kabwe, therefore producing a loss in energy downstream.
Usutu and Ngwavuma Rivers, Swaziland. Team hydrologist for a multi-disciplinary study engaged in the planning of development options for the Usutu and Ngwavuma river basins. Responsible for collection, analysis and manipulation of hydrological data for subsequent use in single/multi reservoir simulation studies. Particular emphasis given to the estimation of virgin runoffs (recorded flows adjusted for existing reservoirs, afforestation and other water uses) at ungauged locations.
Imbuluzi River Basin, Swaziland. Development of simulation model of the Imbuluzi river system, taking due account of local inflows, abstractions and return flows. Development of rule curve was necessary in order to establish short-term operating policies (for support of 11 000 ha sugar cane) during the very severe drought of the early 1980's.
Kiambere Hydro-Power Project (140 MW), Kenya. Project Hydrologist responsible for hydrological studies required for assessment of hydro-power potential, making due allowance for a large (1560 Mm3) upstream reservoir. Responsible for development of regional flood curves for unregulated catchment and assessment of design flood for 112 m high dam on the Tana River.
Athi River Basin Study, Kenya. Team hydrologist for a multi-purpose study involving assessment of "naturalised" river flows, flood flows and sediment loads.
Responsible for management of local office (short-term). Firm's representative at Mufulira Mine during construction of flood control scheme. Duties included:-
Mufulira River Diversion Scheme, Zambia. Responsible for hydrological analyses and optimisation of scheme components (dams, spillways and pipelines).
Riao Irrigation Scheme, Cameroon. Assisted with hydrological studies for investigation of flood control scheme. Responsible for development of reservoir simulation model used to define post-regulation river flows.
Upper Reservoir Hydro-Power Project, Kenya. Assistant hydrologist on feasibility study of major regulating reservoir comprising a 55 m high dam and 40 MW power station. Specifically involved in:
Preparation of a computer simulation model for Tana River, Kenya. The model allowed for existing/potential hydro-electric schemes, water supply and irrigation requirements and has since been modified to act as a river management model. Fieldwork in Kenya included analysis of rainfall and river flow data and collection and analysis of sediment measurements at two sites on the Tana River.
Tenke-Fungurume Mining Project, Zaire. Responsible for investigation of water supply for domestic and plant use, including implementation of a programme of river flow and rainfall measurement.
Regulation of River Usk. Responsible for analysis of main south-east Wales water supply scheme, which includes direct, regulating and pumped storage reservoirs. Daily management of river regulation scheme in first year of operation.
Wye/Usk Water Transfer. Development of conceptual arrangements for transfer of up to 340 megalitres/day from the River Wye. Capital cost of preferred scheme was £28 million.
Mathematical Models of River Catchments. Presented to Northern Counties Association, Institution of Civil Engineers, November, 1969.
Storage Characteristics of a River Catchment. Ph.D thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1971.
Communication of The Definition of Dry-Weather Flow in River Flow Measurement. J.I.W.E. March 1974.
Hydrological Aspects of the Ulu Jelai Hydro-Power Development, Malaysia. Paper presented to Institution of Water and Environmental Management (South-Eastern Branch), January 1994.
CTA Services Course. CDM Regulations - An Overview. 13 November 1995.*
HEC-5 Training Course, 8-12 March 1999.
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