Micro Hydro Energy - An Introduction

Of all the small renewable energy systems around, a small hydro system - where it's feasible - may be the most cost-effective and reliable. If you have running water on or near your property, you may want to consider investing in a micro-energy system.

A micro-hydro system can mean energy around the clock and year-round, if you have a steady stream of water. All that is required is a fall of several feet high, and a micro-hydro system, consisting of:

• piping
• a turbine generator system
• integration with regular power systems (where possible)

As with other renewable energy systems, micro-hydro systems can be free-standing, hybrid or grid-integrated.

A micro-hydro system very simply takes the energy available from a falling stream of water and converts it into usable electricity.

In our brief introduction to micro hydro, we tell you:

• micro hydro siting
• the legal and economic micro hydro feasibility
• about micro hydro turbines design
• choosing a micro hyrdro contractor
• micro hydro installation
• micro hydro pipeline sizingsizing