MicrohydroSummary

September2011 PreparedbyLukeHutchinson,LinkdEnvironmentalServices

TableofContents
MicrohydroSummary ................................................................................................................................. 1 1. 2.
2.1

Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 3 TechnicalOverview................................................................................................................................ 3
ConfigurationOptions ......................................................................................................................................... 4

3. 4. 5.

LocalPotential ....................................................................................................................................... 6 RegulatoryFramework .......................................................................................................................... 7 BarrierstoImplementation ................................................................................................................... 8

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1. Introduction
Hydropoweristhemeansofusingtheflowofwater,whichismovingduetogravitationalforcetodriveturbinesthat generate electricity. The scale of installation can vary from as little as a few kilowatts to hundreds of megawatts. Hydropowermayincludetidalandwavetechnologies,howeverthiswillnotbecoveredinthistechnologyreview. Today, the development of large scale hydro operations is not preferred and resisted due to the potential for upstream flooding which can destroy agricultural areas, animal habitats and displace communities in the affected 1 areas . Microhydro presents an alternative option with environmental impact on a far minimal scale because 2 implementationispossiblecoupledtootherusesofwater(e.g.bulkwatersupply,irrigation,floodcontrol,etc) . Microhydro power plants, involving small dams, pumps or water mills, can provide a means of electricity to communities that cannot be connected to the national grid. With capacity of 10 kW to 10 MW the technology can provide electricity in remote areas in a very effective way with a lifespan of 30 years or more. Furthermore, it is 2 estimatedthatforevery1MWofhydropowerinstalled,twopermanentjobsarecreatedinthehydropowerindustry . Internationallynosizeterminologyisstandardised,thefollowingisanindication : Pico Micro Mini Small lessthan20kW 20kWto100kW 100kWto1MW 1MWto10MW
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Macrohydroconventionalinstallations:greaterthan10MW.Forgeneralpurposesmicrohydrowillbeusedtorefer togenerationlessthan10MW.

2. TechnicalOverview
A fundamental design requirement for economic sustainability is the efficient use of the water resource. Modern 3 turbinetechnologywillallowupto95%oftheenergyavailablefromwatertobeconvertedintoelectricity . The power output of a hydropower plant is proportional to the water flow rate and the head (the height through whichthewatermustdescendbeforegoingthroughtheturbine).Theflowrateisthequantityofwaterflowingpasta point in a given time typically measured in litres per second or cubic metres per second. The head is the vertical height,inmetres,fromtheturbinetothepointwherethewaterenterstheintakepipeorpenstock. Thepotentialpowercanbecalculated asfollows: Theoreticalpower(P)=Flowrate(Q)xHead(H)xGravity(g)=9.81m/s
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WhenQisincubicmetrespersecond,Hinmetresandg=9.81m/s )then,P=9.81xQxH(kW) However, energy is always lost when it is converted from one form to another. Power will be lost in the penstock carryingthewatertotheturbine,duetofrictionallosses.Withcarefuldesign,thislosscanbereducedtoonlyasmall percentage. Example:Aturbinegeneratorsetoperatingataheadof10metreswithflowof0.3cubicmetrespersecond willdeliverapproximately,(9.81x0.5x0.3x10=)18kW.
1 2

DepartmentofEnergyPhilippineshttp://www.doe.gov.ph/ER/Hydropower.htm

Baseline Study: Hydropower in South Africa, Department of Minerals and Energy, Capacity Building in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CaBEERE)2002
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HErdmannsdrfer,SmallDecentralizedHydropowerStationsAFutureforRuralAreaswithoutDieselPower,GermanyEnergyPartnerforAfrica

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The type of energy conversion technology required is related to the head classification. Hydro power conversion occurs through the use of either impulse or reaction turbines. Impulse turbines convert the kinetic energy while reactionturbinesconvertthepressureenergyintomechanicalenergy.Reactionturbinesworkbyfullyimmersingthe turbinebladesinwaterandmustbebuilttowithstandtheoperatingpressure,turbineexamplesincludeFrancisand Kaplanturbines.Impulseturbinesmakeuseofahighspeedjetofwaterstrikingthebucketsmakinguseofthewaters 4 motion,turbineexamplesinclude:Pelton,Turgo,crossflowturbines . Figure1Typesofturbines,reactionatleft,impulseatright.

2.1

ConfigurationOptions

Runofriver Themajorityof microhydropowerplantsarerunofriver schemes.Thistypeofhydropowerplantoperatesunder lowheadandismainlybuiltinrivervalleys.Electricityisonlygeneratedwhenwaterisavailableandwillstopifthe flowfallsbelowacertainlevel.Asaresultsmallindependentschemesmaynotalwaysbeabletosupplyelectricity, unlesstheyaresizedsothatthereisalwayssufficientwater. Themaincomponentsofarunoftherivermicro hydroschemeareshownintheillustrationbelow. This type of setup requires no water storage but instead diverts some water from the river along the side of a valley to be dropped into the turbineviathepenstock. Therearevariousother configurations which can be used depending on thetopographicalandhydrologicalconditions,but all adopt similar general principles and methodologies. Figure2:Layoutofatypicalmicrohydroscheme
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Onlineresourcehttp://www.hydroturbines.com/id74.html MicrohydroPower,PracticalActionTechnologyChallengingPoverty

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Damwalls Dam wall hydropower schemes are usually not implemented for small or microhydro due to financial constraints, 6 however; this configuration is viable if such dams have already been constructed . The main issue is how to link headwaterandtail waterbyawaterwayandhowtofittheturbineinthis waterway.Thetwoconfigurationsinthis casearetoplacetheturbineatthebaseofthedamifachannelcanbeconstructed,thealternativeisasiphonintake asshownbelow.

Figure3.Siphonintakeconfigurationwiththeturbineplacedattheapexofthesiphon. WaterInfrastructure Insomeinstancesthereistheopportunitytoharnesstheenergycontainedinthebulkwatersupplyanddistribution system, one example is constructing a hydropower facility within irrigation canals. Another option is to integrate a turbineintothedrinkingwaterinfrastructurebetweenreservoirandthewatertreatmentplant.Insomecasesplants havespecialvalvestodissipatethekineticenergyandthereisanopportunitytoconvertthisenergyintoelectricity.

GuideonHowtoDevelopaSmallHydropowerPlanESHA2004

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3. LocalPotential

Figure4:AreaswithmicrohydropotentialinSouthAfrica(DME,Eskom,CSIR,2001) ThehydropowerpotentialhasbeenshownintheBaselineStudyonHydropowerinSouthAfrica(CaBEERE,2002 an assessment conducted by the DME) that there exists a significant potential for development of all categories of hydropower in the short and mediumterm in specific areas of the country. The image below shows all areas with hydropotentialanditis evidentthattheEasternCapeandKwaZuluNatalprovinceshold significant capacityand notably,withthebestpotentialforthedevelopmentofsmall,hydropower(lessthan10MW). Furthermore, the Eastern Cape province (particularly in the area of Transkei) is identified as potentially the most productiveareasforhydroelectricdevelopmentinSouthAfrica.InvestigatingthepotentialintheLowerOrangeriver forhydropowersetupinseriesortandem,showsthatsome12hydroelectricplantscanbeinstalledinseries,each 7 sitehavingapotentialoutputofbetween6MWand25MW .TableXshowstheavailableandpotentialofhydropower inSouthAfrica. Another study indicates that there are 3500 5000 potential sites for mini/micro hydro electric power plants 8 identifiedalongtheeasternpartsofthecountry .

7 8

Clackson,E.(2002).Refurbishmentandupgradingofexistinghydropowerinstallations.Personalcommunication,Nelspruit,Mpumalanga,July BBarta,HydropowerPotentialinSouthernAfrica,TradersIssue20,November2004February2005

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 Table1:TotalformacroandsmallhydropowerinSAexcludingpumpstorage(CaBEERE,2002).

JobCreation
Theshorttomediumtermpossiblehydroelectricityproduction is estimatedatsome450GWh/year,dependingon theloadfactoradopted.Themediumtermpotentialforjobcreationonlyfromthedevelopmentofmicrohydropower schemesisestimatedatabout3,000jobs,withsome1,100jobsonapermanentbasisintheoperation,manufacturing 9 andadministrationofhydropowerdevelopment . DuetothepresenceofsizableandestablishedminingindustryinSouthAfrica,thereisalargeindustrialsupportbase capable of providing needed expertise for manufacture, servicing and refurbishment of essential hydropower products for the development of small hydropower systems. It is estimated that for every 1 MW of hydropower 8 installed,twopermanentjobswillbecreatedinthehydropowerindustry .

4. RegulatoryFramework
Irrespective of the size of installation, any hydropower development will require authorisation in terms of the National WaterAct1998,Act36of1998. Theact stipulatesthenecessityto registera WaterUseLicense,andthe followingentitiesarerequiredtoregister: Individualssuchasfarmers,smallholders,landownersorlessees. Communitiessuchascommunalenterprises,traditionalfarmersgroups. NationalorProvincialGovernment. Companiesandbusinessesincludingpartnerships,publiccompanies,privatecompanies,companiesnot forgain,guaranteecompanies,foreigncompanies,incorporatedprivatecompanies,closedcorporations etc. WaterUserAssociations. WaterServicesProviders,includingWaterBoardsandLocalGovernment.
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Baseline Study: Hydropower in South Africa, Department of Minerals and Energy, Capacity Building in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CaBEERE)2002
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DepartmentofEnergyWebsitehttp://www.energy.gov.za/files/renewables_frame.html

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Registrationdoesnotsetupentitlementtousethewater, thewateruselicenseauthorisesproponenttousewater. Registration should be seen as the first step in establishing a relationship as a water user with the Department. FormstoregisterareobtainablefromanyofficeoftheDepartment.Registrationcannotbeturneddownordenied,if thewateruseisofalegitimatemeans. Thefollowingisabasicoutlineoftheprocessestoobtainawateruselicense : ApplicationsareobtainedandsubmittedtoDWAFregionaloffices. The regional office will assess the applications and advise on the requirements. The Regional office will furthermakearecommendationtothedelegatedofficial. The regional office will thensubmitthe application to the Head Office:Chief Directorate: Water Use for furtherhandling. TheChiefDirectorate:WaterUsewillreviewthelicenseapplicationforcompliancewiththePolicy TheChiefDirector:WaterUsewillthenmakerecommendationsfortheMinistertomakeadecision. ApplicantsmayappealthedecisionstotheWaterTribunal.
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FormoredetailedinformationrefertoAGuidetotheRegistrationofWaterUseUndertheNationalWaterAct(Act 36of1998)andseetheinstructionsatwww.dwaf.gov.za/Projects/WARMS

5. BarrierstoImplementation
Themanychallengesfacingsmallhydropowerexploitationaregenerallysharedbarriersofrenewableenergyindustry andindependentpowerproducers.Thesebarriersarethe lackofclearandconsistentpoliciesonrenewableenergy and associated requisite budgetary allocations to create an enabling environment for mobilising resources and encouraginginvestment.Furthermore,theabsenceoflowcost,longtermfinancingmodelstoproviderenewablesto customersataffordablepriceswhileensuringthattheindustryremainssustainableexasperatesdevelopment. Microhydrofacesthefollowingspecificissues : Limitedaccesstoappropriatetechnologies,withspecialtechnicalchallengesduetothelocalcontextofsmall headsandhighvolumesorveryhighheadsandlowvolumes. Limitedinfrastructureinthefieldsofmanufacturing,installationandoperation.Eventhemostrudimentary turbinesorpartsthatare criticaltomaintenancehavelimitedmanufacturing supportonthecontinent.An example is the unavailable capacity to manufacture highdensity polyvinyl pipes that can serve as good penstocks few countries have these products and as a result implementation at simple sites has been hampered. (However,duetothepresenceoftheminingindustryinSouthAfrica,thereisalarge industrial support base in existence, capable of providing the needed expertise for manufacture, servicing and 13 refurbishmentofessentialhydropowerproducts,whichisprimarilyminingtypeequipment.) Limitedcapacitytodesignanddevelopmicrohydroforareassometimesconsideredtooremote.Generally, SouthAfricahaslimitedcapacityofexpertstoundertakemicrohydrofeasibilitystudies. TheregulatoryadministrationissuesrequiredfortheWaterUseLicense.(TheDepartmentofWaterAffairsis saidtohaveastrategytoguidetheprojectdevelopmentofhydropower).
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ThemicrohydroexperienceinthePhilippinesisthatoffgridelectrificationishinderedbyhighupfrontcostsandthe 14 needforgovernmentinterventionandsubsidy .
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GuidelinefortheDevelopmentofRenewableEnergyProjects,2008EthekwiniMunicipalityKnowledgeRepository SmallhydropowerforruralelectrificationinSouthAfricausingexperiencesfromotherAfricancountries,KlunneCSIR2009

BaselineStudy:HydropowerinSouthAfrica,DepartmentofMineralsandEnergy,CapacityBuildinginEnergyEfficiencyandRenewableEnergy (CaBEERE)2002
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DepartmentofEnergy,Philippineswww.doe.gov.ph/ER/Hydropower.htm

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Governmenthave establishedthe WorkingforEnergyprogramme whichwelcomesprojectdevelopers interestedin 15 providingsustainableenergysolutionstoruralcommunities,usingspecificallymicrohydro .

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Moreinformationatwww.reee.sacities.net/resources/wfe.htm

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