Hydropower: Renewable Energy from Running Water

Hydro turbine

A hydro turbine converts the kinetic
energy in water to electricity using a
generator

Are you lucky enough to have a stream or river on your property? If so, you can use a hydro turbine to convert the renewable energy in the running water into electricity.

Hydro power is the most efficient of the renewable energy technologies. Depending on site conditions, between 60 and 90% of the water’s energy can be converted to electricity. The down side is that it’s also the most location-specific technology!

Installed costs vary widely depending on the site conditions. And assessing the available resource isn’t simple. If you feel that your property has potential for hydro, why not contact us for free advice?

Key factors in choosing Heat Pumps

There are a few things that you should consider with relation to hydro power:

  • Is your proposed site suitable in terms of water flow and head (vertical fall)?
  • Are there any planning or water extraction restrictions where you live?
  • What’s your budget? A small hydro turbine can cost between £4,000 and £10,000 depending on size. A larger 5kW turbine can cost up to £25,000.

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