#Micro hydro power for off grid houses install
#Micro hydro power for off grid houses generator
#Micro hydro power for off grid houses pro

In remote locations, it will probably be more cost-effective to install an off-grid system than to bring the closest power grid to you (if that’s even a possibility). This is a big question for people installing their own green energy systems., and there are pros and cons to each position. Unlike solar panel installation, which is more standardized and often similar from home to home, micro-hydro power systems will require a lot of individual configuring for optimal performance, whether you DIY this project or hire a professional. Since a micro-hydro power system could be inefficient or inoperable for longer periods of time (if, for example, you have a small stream that’s impacted by a deep freeze or prolonged dry spell), storing energy in batteries becomes less feasible.Īnother down side is that every site is highly unique. That said, power will vary seasonally, rather than day to day. Water will run regardless of time of day and has less short-term regard for weather than either solar or wind. Natural Resources Canada (NRC) states that hydropower “can produce many times more power and energy than several other sources for the same capital investment,” so value is a plus.ĭay to day, micro-hydro power is also a more stable source of energy than either solar panels or wind turbines. These systems tend to be reliable and long-lasting, with low maintenance and operating costs.

#Micro hydro power for off grid houses pro

One big pro is that since micro-hydro systems don’t require dams or reservoirs, their impact on local waterways is minimal. Likewise, the greater the flow and the head of your site, the more power you’ll produce. not likely to dry up in summer as well as freeze over in winter), the more power you’ll be able to generate. Renewables First suggests a bare minimum of 1.9 m3/s of flow and a 2m head.īeyond those minimums, the more stable your on-site water resources are (i.e. They state that a site with less than 10 feet (3 meters) of difference in elevation would be considered “low head,” while a change of 2 feet (0.6 m) or less would make the site unsuitable for generating hydro power. walks you through several methods for measuring head and flow here. Land and water surveys will provide you with basic information about your property and the water on it. Head is the elevation difference between the point where water will enter the system to the point where the turbine will be located (measured in feet or meters). The basic requirements that make a site a good candidate for a micro-hydro power system are a stable moving water supply with sufficient head and flow.įlow is simply the volume of water that passes through your site (calculated in gallons per minute, liters per second or in cubic meters per second, depending on what country you’re in). Off-grid systems typically add a battery bank. The water then moves through a tailrace and back to the water source, while the electricity is moved along transmission wires to the home.Īdditional components are likely to include a filter or screen to keep out debris, load controllers to manage the electric power and an inverter to turn the DC current that will be generated to AC.

#Micro hydro power for off grid houses generator

A generator turns that power into electricity. Once there, water is directed at a turbine or pump, which creates mechanical power. Systems will typically work more or less as follows: a diversion component takes in water from the water source and a pipeline, canal, channel or penstock (a pipeline that’s pressurized) delivers the water to the generating station. While full-scale hydropower stations operate by damming rivers and creating reservoirs, micro-hydro systems are “run of river,” which means they merely divert a portion of the water’s actual flow. Much like wind energy is harnessed by a turbine to create rotational energy, flowing water is directed through a turbine hooked up to a generator that turns the rotational energy created by the turbine into usable electricity.

Considering that a 10 kW system can power a large home, your stream or creek could be more than capable of meeting your home energy needs with the right system. You have a potential candidate for a micro-hydro power system.Ī micro-hydro power system is an independent power generator with a capacity less than 100 kW.

If you’re lucky enough to have water moving through your property, you have more than a constant source of relaxing nature sounds.