Mini hydropower

With all the talk lately about electric prices and people on here looking to install solar and to an extent wind generation, it got me thinking many farmers will have streams, ditches and rivers running across their land, is there a viable option for small hydropower?

After a quick look it looks like there are options if you have the right setup but I’m still not sure if it would be viable.

I did come across this, which looks like it could have huge potential for electric fences, as long as you have a ditch or stream no more fencer battery’s:


Do people think there is potential in the idea?
 
We’ve got redundant Leats and sluce infrastructure from the mining days that worked the stamps back in the day. It’s a simple uninvasive job to reinstate but advised to lay low....
Photo below doesn’t really tell the whole story but gives an example of the potential.
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
We’ve got redundant Leats and sluce infrastructure from the mining days that worked the stamps back in the day. It’s a simple uninvasive job to reinstate but advised to lay low....
Photo below doesn’t really tell the whole story but gives an example of the potential.
Sorry i asked a rhetorical question. I did not expect an answer because the right answer would be to say nothing and JFDI. If it was me I would get admin to delete your last post.
 
166D989F-6BAD-430B-9360-96499CD9DD92.jpeg
166D989F-6BAD-430B-9360-96499CD9DD92.jpeg
 
I’d almost enjoy a discussion with anyone in authority. I’ve done nothing wrong yet so have the moral high ground. In reality I realise that many farms have had back to back inspections from RPA, BCMS and HMRC for no obviously connected reason.....
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Hydro is far more usable for farmers then either solar or wind but until EA are removed from the rules it is pretty pointless.
I can recall seeing small scale hydro at the CAT in mid Wales 30 years ago and one of the proponents there saying then that Wales would be the perfect location for a large project, installing small systems all over the place, 2-3 in every valley...

Fat chance with EA being so antagonistic...
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
I can recall seeing small scale hydro at the CAT in mid Wales 30 years ago and one of the proponents there saying then that Wales would be the perfect location for a large project, installing small systems all over the place, 2-3 in every valley...

Fat chance with EA being so antagonistic...
If EA would allow I could build 5 of these in series to produce 75 kw on just 100 mtrs of my land. Far better investment than either wind turbine or solar.

 

f0ster

Member
to install one of these you need a location beside a river that is on a lower level than the river, rivers always find the lowest point to flow so creating somewhere lower than the existing river bed can be difficult, and you have to contend with occasions when the river is overflowing and possibly bursting its banks
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
to install one of these you need a location beside a river that is on a lower level than the river, rivers always find the lowest point to flow so creating somewhere lower than the existing river bed can be difficult, and you have to contend with occasions when the river is overflowing and possibly bursting its banks
Not true. A good old fashioned leat contoured to the hillside is all that is required. Its made even easier now with preformed U sections for the leat which can be covered with a lid that can be seeded so livestock will not fall in.
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
How much flow is required for a machine like that and do u get a smaller 1 like a 5kw with less flow required
Most of the details you can pick up off this website. I have nothing to do with them and other manufacturers are available doing similar and even smaller machines. Only picked this site at random as the website is quite good and self explanotary.

 

Agrifool

Member
Anyone know where I could buy a bolt on v notch with increments marked on it so I can install and measure water flow in nearby stream?
 

currantvt

Member
Most of the details you can pick up off this website. I have nothing to do with them and other manufacturers are available doing similar and even smaller machines. Only picked this site at random as the website is quite good and self explanotary.

Fascinating stuff, how do these compare to the archimedes screw type of thing ? Cousin of mine installed one of those a few years ago in Worcs , had a quite a job with the EA but he is one of those people who is relentless and I think they finally gave in to get rid of him, it's an impressive bit of kit .
 
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