IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v256y2026ipes0960148125019548.html

A multisource geospatial dataset for assessing and enhancing small-scale hydropower potential in Cameroon

Author

Listed:
  • Punys, Petras
  • Jurevičius, Linas
  • Kvaraciejus, Algis
  • Kenfack, Joseph

Abstract

This article was prepared using publicly accessible data from the web-based Hydropower Atlas HYPOSO, covering five Latin American and African countries. The Cameroonian rivers and streams (more than 6000) are analysed herein using geospatial datasets. We aimed to evaluate the country's hydropower potential, assess the outcomes in comparison to other studies, and identify suitable site locations for establishing prospective small hydropower (SHP) plants. Geospatial analysis was extensively used for the country's stream and river data, utilising GIS techniques. The power potential was assessed based on the physical properties of the stream channel, such as stream channel gradient and mean annual flow, according to the updated specific runoff map. Analysed rivers and streams were segmented into single river reaches. Longitudinal river profiles were generated using the digital elevation model employed in this research to validate and compare them with earlier assessments. Various patterns were employed to model hydropower potential, and the resulting estimates were then compared with those from previous evaluations. More than 990 potential high-energy-intensity stream locations suitable for establishing small hydropower plants were discovered. These datasets and updated technical hydropower potential (nearly 36 GW) in the country were statistically analysed. The SHP potential, including uncertainty quantification, was estimated at 7154 MW ± 4220 MW. Their summaries are necessary for decision-makers to advance small hydro projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Punys, Petras & Jurevičius, Linas & Kvaraciejus, Algis & Kenfack, Joseph, 2026. "A multisource geospatial dataset for assessing and enhancing small-scale hydropower potential in Cameroon," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PE).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pe:s0960148125019548
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124290
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125019548
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.124290?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fasipe, O.A. & Izinyon, O.C. & Ehiorobo, J.O., 2021. "Hydropower potential assessment using spatial technology and hydrological modelling in Nigeria river basin," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 960-976.
    2. Larentis, Dante G. & Collischonn, Walter & Olivera, Francisco & Tucci, Carlos E.M., 2010. "Gis-based procedures for hydropower potential spotting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 4237-4243.
    3. Szabó, S. & Bódis, K. & Huld, T. & Moner-Girona, M., 2013. "Sustainable energy planning: Leapfrogging the energy poverty gap in Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 500-509.
    4. Jean Gaston Tamba & Flavian Emmanuel Sapnken & Tchitchile Wilfried Emmanuel Azong & Serge Guefano & Armand Fopah Lele & Louis Monkam, 2022. "An Overview of Electricity in Cameroon: Current Status, Influential Factors and Government Actions," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(4), pages 470-481, July.
    5. Punys, Petras & Kvaraciejus, Algis & Dumbrauskas, Antanas & Šilinis, Linas & Popa, Bogdan, 2019. "An assessment of micro-hydropower potential at historic watermill, weir, and non-powered dam sites in selected EU countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 1108-1123.
    6. Kenfack, Joseph & Nzotcha, Urbain & Voufo, Joseph & Ngohe-Ekam, Paul Salomon & Nsangou, Jean Calvin & Bignom, Blaise, 2021. "Cameroon's hydropower potential and development under the vision of Central Africa power pool (CAPP): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    7. Muh, Erasmus & Amara, Sofiane & Tabet, Fouzi, 2018. "Sustainable energy policies in Cameroon: A holistic overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3420-3429.
    8. Alexandros Korkovelos & Dimitrios Mentis & Shahid Hussain Siyal & Christopher Arderne & Holger Rogner & Morgan Bazilian & Mark Howells & Hylke Beck & Ad De Roo, 2018. "A Geospatial Assessment of Small-Scale Hydropower Potential in Sub-Saharan Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-21, November.
    9. Modeste, Kameni Nematchoua & Mempouo, Blaise & René, Tchinda & Costa, Ángel M. & Orosa, José A. & Raminosoa, Chrysostôme R.R. & Mamiharijaona, Ramaroson, 2015. "Resource potential and energy efficiency in the buildings of Cameroon: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 835-846.
    10. Punys, Petras & Kasiulis, Egidijus & Kvaraciejus, Algis & Dumbrauskas, Antanas & Vyčienė, Gitana & Šilinis, Linas, 2017. "Impacts of the EU and national environmental legislation on tapping hydropower resources in Lithuania – A lowland country," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 495-504.
    11. Abanda, F.H., 2012. "Renewable energy sources in Cameroon: Potentials, benefits and enabling environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 4557-4562.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kenfack, Joseph & Nzotcha, Urbain & Voufo, Joseph & Ngohe-Ekam, Paul Salomon & Nsangou, Jean Calvin & Bignom, Blaise, 2021. "Cameroon's hydropower potential and development under the vision of Central Africa power pool (CAPP): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    2. Sapnken, Flavian Emmanuel & Posso, Fausto & Kibong, Marius Tony & Noumo, Prosper Gopdjim & Fantah, Armel Cheunteu & Tamba, Jean Gaston, 2024. "Green hydrogen demand in Cameroon's energy sectors by 2040," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    3. Fasipe, O.A. & Izinyon, O.C. & Ehiorobo, J.O., 2021. "Hydropower potential assessment using spatial technology and hydrological modelling in Nigeria river basin," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 960-976.
    4. Tiam Kapen, Pascalin & Jeutho Gouajio, Marinette & Yemélé, David, 2020. "Analysis and efficient comparison of ten numerical methods in estimating Weibull parameters for wind energy potential: Application to the city of Bafoussam, Cameroon," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1188-1198.
    5. Muh, Erasmus & Amara, Sofiane & Tabet, Fouzi, 2018. "Sustainable energy policies in Cameroon: A holistic overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3420-3429.
    6. Muh, Erasmus & Tabet, Fouzi, 2019. "Comparative analysis of hybrid renewable energy systems for off-grid applications in Southern Cameroons," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 41-54.
    7. Egidijus Kasiulis & Petras Punys & Algis Kvaraciejus & Antanas Dumbrauskas & Linas Jurevičius, 2020. "Small Hydropower in the Baltic States—Current Status and Potential for Future Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-21, December.
    8. Soulis, Konstantinos X. & Manolakos, Dimitris & Ntavou, Erika & Kosmadakis, George, 2022. "A geospatial analysis approach for the operational assessment of solar ORC systems. Case study: Performance evaluation of a two-stage solar ORC engine in Greece," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 116-128.
    9. Guefano, Serge & Tamba, Jean Gaston & Azong, Tchitile Emmanuel Wilfried & Monkam, Louis, 2021. "Forecast of electricity consumption in the Cameroonian residential sector by Grey and vector autoregressive models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    10. , Diego, 2017. "The Natural and Infrastructural Capital Elements of Potential Post-Electrification Wealth Creation in Kenya," SocArXiv ddnhz, Center for Open Science.
    11. Haidar, Ahmed M.A. & Muttaqi, Kashem & Sutanto, Danny, 2015. "Smart Grid and its future perspectives in Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1375-1389.
    12. Bekker, A. & Van Dijk, M. & Niebuhr, C.M., 2022. "A review of low head hydropower at wastewater treatment works and development of an evaluation framework for South Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    13. Baurzhan, Saule & Jenkins, Glenn P., 2016. "Off-grid solar PV: Is it an affordable or appropriate solution for rural electrification in Sub-Saharan African countries?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1405-1418.
    14. Heider, Katharina & Quaranta, Emanuele & García Avilés, José María & Rodriguez Lopez, Juan Miguel & Balbo, Andrea L. & Scheffran, Jürgen, 2022. "Reinventing the wheel – The preservation and potential of traditional water wheels in the terraced irrigated landscapes of the Ricote Valley, southeast Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    15. Silinto, Berino Francisco & van der Laag Yamu, Claudia & Zuidema, Christian & Faaij, André P.C., 2025. "Hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in developing countries: A review on energy system models and spatial explicit modelling tools," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    16. Nzotcha, Urbain & Kenfack, Joseph & Blanche Manjia, Marceline, 2019. "Integrated multi-criteria decision making methodology for pumped hydro-energy storage plant site selection from a sustainable development perspective with an application," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 930-947.
    17. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Daniels, Chux & AbdulRafiu, Abbas, 2022. "Transitioning to electrified, automated and shared mobility in an African context: A comparative review of Johannesburg, Kigali, Lagos and Nairobi," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    18. Dranka, Géremi Gilson & Ferreira, Paula, 2018. "Planning for a renewable future in the Brazilian power system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 496-511.
    19. Peter Tauš & Martin Beer, 2022. "Evaluation of the Hydropower Potential of the Torysa River and Its Energy Use in the Process of Reducing Energy Poverty of Local Communities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-15, May.
    20. Curran, Franziska & Smart, Simon & Lacey, Justine & Greig, Chris & Lant, Paul, 2018. "Learning from experience in the water sector to improve access to energy services," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 41-50.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pe:s0960148125019548. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.