mhdr:micro-hydro

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
mhdr:micro-hydro [2026/03/16 16:28] – Simon Grantmhdr:micro-hydro [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
Line 1: Line 1:
-# Micro-hydro+This topic is part of [[gt:power|Power & heating]]. 
 +====== Micro-hydro ======
  
  
Line 10: Line 11:
  
  
-## What is micro-hydro?+===== What is micro-hydro? =====
  
 A micro-hydro system converts the potential energy in a stream of moving water into electrical energy. The principles of hydropower are the same whatever the size of the system. Micro-hydro refers to small systems that can be installed by individual homes, businesses or farms. A micro-hydro system converts the potential energy in a stream of moving water into electrical energy. The principles of hydropower are the same whatever the size of the system. Micro-hydro refers to small systems that can be installed by individual homes, businesses or farms.
Line 27: Line 28:
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### History+==== History ====
  
 Hydropower has been utilised since ancient times, via waterwheels for milling grain and lifting water for irrigation. Turbines that generate electricity were first developed in the late 19th century. Hydropower has been utilised since ancient times, via waterwheels for milling grain and lifting water for irrigation. Turbines that generate electricity were first developed in the late 19th century.
Line 42: Line 43:
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Types of turbine+==== Types of turbine ====
  
 **Pelton:** typically used for high-head sites (large vertical drop, usually in the upper courses of rivers); operating head starts around 50m and can be over 1000m, with flow over 2000 litres / second. They’re like breakfast bowls mounted on a spindle, hit with a jet of high-pressure water. **Pelton:** typically used for high-head sites (large vertical drop, usually in the upper courses of rivers); operating head starts around 50m and can be over 1000m, with flow over 2000 litres / second. They’re like breakfast bowls mounted on a spindle, hit with a jet of high-pressure water.
Line 71: Line 72:
  
  
-## What are the benefits of micro-hydro?+===== What are the benefits of micro-hydro? =====
  
 There are all the usual benefits of renewable energy generation, in that it avoids the burning of fossil fuels, with their associated pollution and carbon emissions. Plus it’s one of the more efficient renewable technologies. The load (or capacity) factor on small hydro is typically around 45% (load factor is the ratio of energy output per year to the maximum output if the system works at full-rated capacity all year round). PV is typically around 8-9%, and a 250kW wind turbine is in the 18-22% range, depending on the site. There are all the usual benefits of renewable energy generation, in that it avoids the burning of fossil fuels, with their associated pollution and carbon emissions. Plus it’s one of the more efficient renewable technologies. The load (or capacity) factor on small hydro is typically around 45% (load factor is the ratio of energy output per year to the maximum output if the system works at full-rated capacity all year round). PV is typically around 8-9%, and a 250kW wind turbine is in the 18-22% range, depending on the site.
Line 113: Line 114:
  
  
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 If you live near a stream and you’re thinking of installing micro-hydro, first you have to think about where your intake would be, and do you own the land on both sides of the stream in that location (often a land boundary is in the middle of a stream, which means you can’t build a weir right across the stream if you don’t own the far bank). You really want your input to be as far upstream as possible. So for small gardens, it wouldn’t really work (unless you have a waterfall, which is unlikely), and for farms, the best location would the the upper boundary of the property. If you live near a stream and you’re thinking of installing micro-hydro, first you have to think about where your intake would be, and do you own the land on both sides of the stream in that location (often a land boundary is in the middle of a stream, which means you can’t build a weir right across the stream if you don’t own the far bank). You really want your input to be as far upstream as possible. So for small gardens, it wouldn’t really work (unless you have a waterfall, which is unlikely), and for farms, the best location would the the upper boundary of the property.
Line 167: Line 168:
  
  
-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:power|Power & heating]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/power). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [International Hydropower Association](https://www.hydropower.org/)  - [International Hydropower Association](https://www.hydropower.org/) 
Line 188: Line 193:
  
  
-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[batt:Batteries]] - [[batt:Batteries]]
Line 194: Line 199:
 - [[lien:energy|Low-impact energy]] - [[lien:energy|Low-impact energy]]
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • mhdr/micro-hydro.1773678513.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/16 16:28
  • by Simon Grant