Microhydropower

Large, hydroelectric dams and generating plants have been used for decades to provide electricity. The same principles can be applied on a much smaller "microhydropower" scale to generate electricity for the homeowner with access to a stream or moving water. This size of system normally produces less than 100 kilowatts of power. A large home or small farm can be adequately powered by a micro-hydro system of only 10 kilowatts.

This illustration shows a green hilly area with a few pine trees here and there. A river flows through and down from the hills. The river first flows through an intake, which is indicated as two white walls on each side of the river. The intake diverts water to a canal. From the canal, the water travels to a forebay, which looks like a white, rectangular, aboveground pool. A pipeline, called a penstock, extends from the forebay to a building, called the powerhouse. You can see inside the powerhouse, which contains a turbine and other electric generation equipment. The water flows in and out of the powerhouse, returning to the river. Power lines also extend from the powerhouse, along and through two transmission towers, to a house that sits near the river's edge.

Microhydropower systems use the energy in moving water to generate electricity. These small systems do not normally rely on reservoirs or dams to impound water but instead use what is referred to as "run-of-the river." A portion of the stream or river's volume is temporarily diverted from the normal channel and used to turn a turbine and generator to produce electricity.

Microhydroelectric systems can only be considered by individuals with access to moving water. In the right situation, however, this approach to energy self-sufficiency can provide more than enough electricity for running a home and may allow the homeowner to sell unused electricity to the utility if the site is grid-connected.

Learn More

The following links provide more information for on-site energy options for the homeowner:

Micro-hydro systems: