Hydropower An overview - Regensw

Hydropower An overview Renewable Energy Marketplace 08 March 2012

Chris Elliott BHA Member Western Renewable Energy

What is Hydropower? Dams – High impact Storage

Water Mills – Low impact! Run-of-River

What is Hydropower? Diversion

Channel

Intake

Pipeline

Power Line

Powerhouse

Tailrace

Hydro Basics “It all depends on the head”

Head (H)

H

Hydro Basics …. and Flow Rate

Head (H) Flow rate (Q)

Q

H

Hydro Basics Power Water power available = H x Q Power output also depends upon: Head losses Turbine Efficiency Generator Efficiency Drive losses

Q

x

H

Hydro Basics “There’s no such thing as an 80kW water turbine” Medium Head = 10m Flow = 1m³/s P = 80 kW

Low Head = 1m Flow = 10m³/s

P = 80 kW

Small water turbine Large water turbine

Hydropower in the UK Present situation • Pumped Storage • Storage hydro

• Run of river hydro • Micro hydro • Energy recovery from water supply and water treatment

Hydro in the UK • Total UK typical peak demand 50GW • UK Hydro capacity 1.5GW • Pumped Storage 3GW • Most new projects up to 100kW

Incentives with strings • Feed In Tariff – MCS for