A small hydropower plant (micro and mini hydro) is a system that uses the force of gravity to generate power from a renewable source: water. A difference of large hydro technology does not require the creation of a reservoir and, accordingly, does not produce a significant impact on the landscape and the ecosystem existing, while still getting a good production of energy.
The cost for the construction of a plant of this type varies depending on the technology and the installed power, but can be much lower compared to other plants for energy production.
The systems are classified according to how micro-hydropower power up to 100kW and mini-hydroelectric power up to 1MW.
The fields of application are many:
- Natural rivers
- Channels artificial irrigation and industrial
- Penstock of aqueducts for drinking or industrial
- Drain of industrial wastewater or sewage treatment plants
The different applications exploit different technologies between them, and may be used depending on the installed power and the context for the simple consumption or for the sale of energy. For all applications, the installed capacity depends on the flow in transit and the hydraulic jump that you intend to take advantage of.
The group Future Energy identifies opportunities for each individual the most efficient technology, also depending on the context in which the work will be carried out, sizing and installing screw machines, traditional or innovative turbines, inclusive of all ancillary equipment for proper operation of the system and to manage the lifecycle of the plant in the field of Operation & Maintenance and Asset Management.
AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION: ARCHIMEDEAN SCREW
The group Future Energy propose, design and install, if possible, as an application on natural waterways and canals a Archimedean screw, an electromechanical device derived from the Archimedes screw.
The Archimedean screw is a volumetric machine, specially dimensioned to exploit the mass of water that crosses converting the rotary motion into electricity through an asynchronous generator.
With the hydraulic system of the Archimedean screw can make the most of small jumps and more scarce brought than required by conventional turbines and also ensuring lower installations and management costs. Every single machine is suitable exploitation of jumps from 1 to 10 meters with capacities from 500 to 6,000 liters per second and an efficiency of about 75%, reaching with power for each single machine up to a maximum of 400kW. The system is also modular allowing the installation of multiple machines in parallel in order to make the most of seasonal variations in flow and allowing the construction of large power plants greater than 400kW.
CASE STUDY: MICRO-HYDROPOWER ARCHIMEDEAN SCREW
As part of the hydroelectric exploitation of an adjusted irrigation canal in central Italy, the group Future Energy has identified the Archimedean screw solution as the most efficient, and has arranged the project for construction of the plant.
In the specific case the technology Coclea allows the exploitation of the installation site, characterized by scarce peak flow of 1,000 liters per second with a jump of 3 meters, a situation difficult to achieve with traditional technologies. The plant will produce a micro-hydroelectric power of about 25kW with an average annual production of about 110,000 kWh equal to a CO2 saving of 70 tons per year.
MINIHYDRO TURNKEY
The group Future Energy offers to individuals and institutions management a complete package for the turnkey construction of a hydropower plant:
- Feasibility studies of the most efficient solution
- Drawing up a financial plan
- Sizing and detailed design of the system
- Management of the authorization for the construction and operation of the plant
- Requests for connection to the national grid
- Management of the construction phase of the plant
- Supply and installation of all components of the hydroelectric plant
- Supply and installation of systems for monitoring and surveillance
- Preparation of tax practices and the recognition of the incentive fee
- Fault, Fire, Theft and Failure Production Insurance
In addition, the group Future Energy helps the client in identifying the most suitable financing needs and, for big plant, can evaluate a participation in the investment.
Finally, the group Future Energy can deliver a range of additional services that allow the increase in the value for the end user, such as planned maintenance, management of administrative practices and incentives and real time monitoring. To investigate these services visit the offerings of the group in the field of Operation & Maintenance and Asset Management.