#MICRO HYDRO POWER FOR OFF GRID HOUSES HOW TO#
#MICRO HYDRO POWER FOR OFF GRID HOUSES FREE#

Since each micro-hydro system is unique in design, size, and the degree of infrastructure development, it is difficult to provide generalizable estimates for project costs. Talk to your installer about this option. These turbines have opened up the potential of using many existing pipelines for hydro projects that were not possible before. Recent developments in turbine design have resulted in turbines that can be used as pressure reduction valves that still deliver water at a useful pressure on the outlet side of the turbine. This makes it difficult to use pipelines that are normally used to deliver water to residences because a minimum amount of water pressure is needed for the houses, and the turbines will reduce that pressure in order to produce energy. If you are interested in integrating a micro-hydro system into existing infrastructure, it is important to note that most traditional hydro turbines convert all of the pressure potential in a pipeline to power. This will help inform your decision on whether or not to build.

#MICRO HYDRO POWER FOR OFF GRID HOUSES HOW TO#

If you're unsure how to measure these (or even if you are!) you should talk to your installer to determine these factors and what your power output potential is. These last two factors will determine the power output potential for your system. Once you have determined access, the next step is to determine the flow rate of the river or stream and the head (the vertical drop from the intake to the turbine). Water rights are an essential starting point for these systems, so you should contact the Montana Department of Natural Resource s for questions about access. If your site is located near power lines, you can consider connecting to the grid and participating in a net-metering program. they are 'off-grid' installations) and produce power for just one homesite or ranch. These systems generally stand apart from the larger electrical system (i.e. Many remote homesites in Montana are near streams that have the potential to produce electricity with very small hydro generators. Like other renewable energy systems, micro-hydro systems can be grid-tied or off-grid. Technically, small-scale hydro systems are between 100 kW and 10 MW, and micro-hydro systems are smaller than 100 kW.Ĭomponents of a micro-hydro system typically include: an intake structure to screen out debris a pipe or canal to transport water from the intake to the turbine and the turbine and generator, which convert the flow of water to electricity.

#MICRO HYDRO POWER FOR OFF GRID HOUSES FREE#

Moreover, small hydro projects are free of the significant environmental impacts of large dams, since they do not require flooding large areas of land to create reservoirs. Though most of the potential large-scale hydro sites in Montana have been developed, there is still much potential for smaller hydropower systems. Hydroelectric power has a long history in Montana, and in fact hydroelectric dams currently account for one-third of Montana's total electric power generation, second only to coal-fired power plants.

Micro hydro power for off grid houses