What is Micro Hydro?

There is no international consensus on the definition of small hydro power. “Small “ hydro can refer to upper limit capacities of between 20 and 30 MW, however, a value of up to 10 MW total capacities is becoming generally accepted. Small hydro can be further subdivided into mini hydro (usually defined as <500kW and micro hydro (<100kW).

SEANZ currently represents all stake holders of micro to small hydro up to 1MW.

How does it work?

A hydro power system captures the energy of flowing water and converts it to usable energy. Although the potential for small hydro-electric systems depends on the availability of suitable water flow, where the resource exists it can provide cheap, clean reliable electricity. A well designed hydro power system can blend with its surroundings and have minimal negative environmental impacts.

Hydro power systems use the energy in flowing water to produce electricity or mechanical energy. The water flows via channel or penstock to a waterwheel or turbine where it strikes the bucket of the wheel, causing the shaft of the waterwheel or turbine to rotate. When generating electricity, the rotating shaft, which is connected to an alternator or generator, converts the motion of the shaft into electrical energy. This electrical energy may be used directly, stored in batteries, or inverted to produce utility-quality electricity.

A small-scale hydroelectric facility requires that a sizable flow of water and a proper height of fall of water, called head, are obtained without building elaborate and expensive facilities. Small hydroelectric plants can be developed at existing dams that have been constructed in connection with river and lake water-level control, and irrigation schemes. By using existing structures, only minor new civil engineering works are required, which reduces the cost of this component of a development.