What is mini hydro power and how does it work?

The mini-hydraulic energy is obtained by channeling the water through pipes where the waterfall is located, taking it to the plant or making it fall to the turbine. Thus, the pressure exerted on the turbine will convert it into electricity. In other words, when the water falls, it exerts pressure on it and transforms it into electrical energy.

Therefore, the electrical energy is obtained from the same kinetic energy of the water caused by gravity, which means that the natural or artificial unevenness will largely determine the power. Mini hydraulic dams are usually considered those with an installed power of no more than 10 MW and dimensions of less than 15 meters.

Apart from the possible environmental problems and the important installation that is required, although those with flowing water require minimal works, mini-hydraulic power has many advantages. Not being intermittent, as is the case with wind or solar, is one of them, or not having an end, because no matter how much the river is used, it continues to flow and does not run out.

Nor is it polluting, since it does not emit greenhouse gases, which is a great advantage over other sources such as those from fossil fuels. In turn, the proximity of the place where it is produced not only encourages energy independence but also avoids the use of large high-voltage networks, thus saving us its high environmental and economic cost, as well as electricity losses in the transport.

In addition to being used in public electrical systems , mini-hydraulics can be used to generate electricity for self-consumption or, in the event of surpluses, even to sell the electricity to the grid.

If in a certain location we have a waterfall capable of ensuring a minimum electricity supply, we will obtain a regular supply that can be an interesting alternative to other renewable energy sources such as solar or wind.

And, of course, mini hydro can be combined with other sources of energy, such as solar, wind or geothermal, the choice of which will depend on our budget and climate of the place. However, doing so will be unnecessary if we do not need to increase electricity production.

The specificity of hydraulic energy consists in the absence of dams or, if there are, they are very small. Basically, the mini – hydro plants do not consume water from the river, they simply collect it and then return it later, at a later point in the channel. Specifically, electricity is generated thanks to waterfalls, without following the system of large hydraulic dams, not very ecological because they threaten the ecosystem and the global hydrological cycle.

In this way, there would be two types of mini-hydraulic power plants : the power plants at the foot of the dam, which retain the water in a small reservoir and those of flowing water, which involve building a bypass of the river to feed a channel that carries the water through pipes. until the turbine to finally return it to the channel. In both cases, although their impact is much less than in the case of large dams, they can be harmful to the environment, so the environmental recommendations of the World Commission on Dams must be followed for their planning and implementation.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is and how does mini hydraulic power work? , we recommend that you enter our category of Renewable Energies .