Pico Hydro
Pico hydro is the name for generating hydro electricity of up to 5 kW. Above that it is called micro hydro or mini hydro. The main benefits of hydro are that it is a constant source of power (unlike wind or solar) and is low maintenance and reliable though it can be expensive to install, especially if any major groundworks need carrying out.
If you happen to have access to running water which you can tap into then there are several issues to sort out
- Do you have the legal right to extract energy from the water?
- Is the flow of water regular enough throughout the year?
- Is there sufficient head to generate power?
- Can you divert the water without causing any significant environmental damage? (eg to fish)
If you think you can answer yes to the above questions then try downloading the CAT information sheets - Micro Hydro Power Factsheet and Hydro Power Resource Guide.
Try contacting the British Hydropower Association. They have a useful guide to small installations in the UK although they still tend to be larger than pico.
Because there is very little modern experience of pico hydro in the UK, a lot of the on line information tends to be from abroad, particularly the US, such as the Hydro Turbines site.
The University of Nottingham has a Pico hydro web site covering the subject. Although mainly aimed at the developing world, it covers the basics well.
IT Power have been developing an innovative syphon type of turbine for low head use.
Grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies are available from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme
