Small Scale Hydroelectric

If you are lucky enough to have a river or stream running through your property you may be able to harness the power of the running water to generate free electricity and take advantage of the generous feed in tariffs. The Hydroelectric technology is one of the most cost-effective and reliable forms of sustainable energy.

Technologies in micro hydroelectric systems have moved on apace in the past few years making it a realistic proposition for harvesting energy. It also benefits from being the last obtrusive sustainable energy option as the system is usually sited under water.

Hydroelectric systems benefit from a high level of predictability, varying only with annual rainfall patterns so the output power varies only gradually from day to day.

It also has a much higher efficiency and capacity factor than that of other sustainable energy sources and is expected to be longer lasting with many installations engineered to last for 50 years or more.

There are a few factors to consider when installing hydroelectric systems both with the best location to site the unit and the type of unit/s that will work most efficiently with the available water flow but your local Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified surveyor will be able to advise you on these matters and any other options open to you.

The Clean Energy Cash-Back scheme (feed-in tariff) guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system. It also makes an additional payment for any electricity exported back to grid from your wind turbines. Once your solar panels are installed you should see a reduction in your electricity bill straight away.

> Hydro-electric costs & savings
> How Hydro-electric works
> Hydro-electric installers