Hydro Power

If you are lucky enough to live near a river or a fast flowing stream, then you can consider hydro power. A water turbine harnesses the power in the movement of water to produce electricity. If the flow is fairly constant then you will be producing power all day and all night, all year round. Even if the turbine is not very high power, it should be remembered that over a year a great deal of power may be available. Water turbines can charge batteries or be grid tied in the same way as solar panels and wind turbines. It should be noted that a hydro generating system will need regular maintenance as it is a mechanical device and there should be some kind of filter to protect the turbine from clogging up with weeds etc.. Water turbines are rated in Watts produced at a given flow rate and it is absolutely vital to know the water flow and head you have available before you invest in one. The British Hydro website is very informative about mini hydro systems.