Mini Hydro

What is a Mini Hydro system?

Hydro-electricity systems convert the energy of moving water into electricity. Small-scale hydro systems don't usually require water storage in the form of a dam or weir. Instead, a portion of a stream or river is temporarily diverted into a pipe system and to the micro-hydro turbine and generator. It's then returned to the same watercourse it came from. Because of this these types of systems have far less impact on the environment than large-scale hydro schemes.

All hydro systems use the force of running water to turn turbine blades, which spin a shaft connected to a generator. These systems are best suited to rural sites, and can be set up wherever water falls from a higher lever to a lower level, such as a waterfall, hillside, stream, or where a reservoir discharges into a river.

Micro hydro is best suited to waterways that flow all year round. The more vertical distance (head) you have between the point where you take the water and where the turbine is located the more electricity you can generate.

They extremely cost effective so if you have the water resource you are sitting on a inexpensive, abundant form of energy.

Types of mini hydro systems

The type of turbine required will depend on the ‘head' (the vertical fall) and the flow rate of the water. Pelton wheels are the type of turbine most commonly used for small-scale domestic generation.

We offer a good range of New Zealand made micro hydro generators to suit most applications and so please contact us for more information.