INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL of SMART GRID M.I.Abid et al., Vol.4, No.3, September, 2020 Design and Optimization of the Micro-Hydro Power System for Remote Areas of Pakistan Muhammad Irfan Abid*, Muhammad Shoaib Khalid** ‡ , Muhammad Kamran***, Muhammad Arshad Rasheed****, Muhammad Farhan Masood*****, Tasawar Murtaza****** *Department of Electrical Engineering and Technology, Riphah International University, Faisalabad **Department of Electrical Engineering, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad *** Department of Electrical Engineering and Technology, Riphah International University, Faisalabad **** Department of Electrical Engineering and Technology, University of Engineering and Technology, Faisalabad *****Department of Electrical Engineering, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad ******Department of Electrical Engineering, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad (mirfanabid@hotmail.com, shoaib.khalid@nu.edu.pk, kamran_ramzan@outlook.com) ‡ Corresponding Author; M. Shoaib Khalid, Tel: +92 300 965 4781, Received: 29.06.2020 Accepted:30.09.2020 Abstract- The electricity price escalation in Pakistan is increasing with an exponential rate because of the dominance of the foreign imported conventional source of energy. The consumer must pay an extra tax as the fuel adjustment in every month's electricity bill. Being the renewable energy source abundant country, Pakistan needs to exploit these energy sources for electricity production. This paper presents a micro-hydro energy system at the Jalala Disty canal in KPK Pakistan. A cite specific scheming of the planned microhydro project is introduced. RETScreen based modeling and optimization of the project are discussed. Net Present Value (NPV) and the Cost of Energy (COE) of the intended microhydro system is calculated. RETScreen optimization assessment confirmed the viability of the planned micro-hydro energy system built on the COE and the NPV. The arrangement is anticipated to retrieve all the expenses incurred in the 4 th year of the total period of the planned project. Comparing with the baseline energy mix of the country, the proposed energy project is 100 % greenhouse gases (GHG) emission free project. Keywords :Microhydro; RETScreen Expert; Renewable energy; GHG emissions; Pakistan 1. Introduction Industrial development, growing population, and expansion of urban areas have augmented the energy requirements in all divisions of Pakistan for the past two decades. Among the energy mix of Pakistan, 37 % of the electricity is generated on imported oil carrying a major portion of the foreign payments to the oil rich countries [1,2]. The success of short term planning of the electricity generation to encounter the growing energy requirements has shifted the energy mix from hydro dominance to the thermal dominance as shown in Figure 1. Regrettably, in spite of having plentiful renewable energy sources, Pakistan is confronting a serious power deficit even in its on grid countryside and city zones. The topographical position of Pakistan creates a country prosperous in sustainable and renewable energy sources such as geothermal, solar PV, solar thermal, biomass, hydro, and wind. Bearing in mind the sustainable and green energy outlook, being an inexpensive, tidy, and ecosystem friendly resource of energy, hydro is the best solution of the prevailing conditions of electricity. Pakistan initiated exploiting the potential of hydro power since its presence. Corresponding to an assessment, 59GW potential of hydro power is available in Pakistan [2]. Table 1 classifies the types of turbines based on their applications and size of the hydro project. Small and micro hydro power are getting admiration in the world for remote/off grid hamlets, isolated and rough areas [3–5] which are yet out of the national flow of improvement. About 50million people in Pakistan are deprived of admission to the grid [6]. Erection of such hydro power system do not require a bigger water sink and storage. In these off grid regions, micro/mini hydro power locations are practicable results [7,8] where the flowing water at a specific head of the canal or any adjacent water source is depleted to a nearby lake and thrown to the rotating turbine to transfer into electrical energy using a connected