Every year our electricity bills seem to be increasing. It has become a practiced norm to try and save on the amount of electricity that we use so as to save on money. This is one of the reasons as to why the mini hydro-electric system has been introduced in many nations. Hydro electric is recognised globally as being a better alternative to coal and oil (fossel fuels). Not only is this source of energy renewable but it is also reliable and eco-friendly.

The mini hydro system is different from the dam or reservoir system of producing electricity in that it uses less amounts of water and does not change the course of rivers and streams. In addition, it is much cheaper to build and install as compared to the dams.

How Does Micro-Electricity Work?

The mini hydro-electric system relies on the natural flow of rivers and streams to generate electricity. There are a variety of methods that can be used to harness enough water to create energy. Since the system does not need to use large storage tanks or reservoirs (although many prefer this method), it can produce electricity direct from a run-of-the-river system.

This is in comparisson to the home windmill electric generation system for instance, which depends on the vagaries of the wind to produce enogh energy to turn a windmill.

The system can either harness energy to the main electricity grid or it can become part of a power system that is dependent. The turbines are usually placed in such a manner that they are within the flow of the water. The kinetic energy that is produced by the turbines is then transformed into electricity

The vertical distance that the water drops and the flow of the water is what is used to determine the amount of electricity that will be produced; this is known as the ‘head’ of water.

Advantage of the Mini Hydro Electric System:

1. It can be combined with the local electricity grid:

This means that if your mini hydroelectric system is able to produce a large amount of electricity than is required, then it can be sold to some of the local power companies.

2. Provides Power to Developing Countries:

The system is cheap and easy to sustain. This serves as a great advantage to developing countries that require supplying energy to small communities and villages. This kind of technology is affordable and can be utilized to also supplement the overall power supply of the countries.

3. It is cost effective:

Building the mini hydro electric system is not expensive. It does not usually require the construction of a dam or large volumes of water. The energy can easily be harnessed by a constant flow of water from the stream or the river. The maintenance fee for this kind of technology is also low as compared to other kinds of electricity generating technologies.

 4. It does not require a reservoir:

Traditional Hydro-electric installations require a large reservoir of water, unlike the mini hydro systems that can be run through a flow of water, or on a low-head water system.

Since it is a run-of-river system, the amount of water that is passed through the generator is redirected back into the stream making it eco-friendly. In addition, it does very little to change the flow of the river or stream. Mini hydro-electric turbines are most effective in this case.

5. It is reliable:

Unlike other sources of energy, the small hydroelectric system – like this one – is reliable if you have a constant flow of water. The winter season is the period when electricity is utilized the most. It takes only a small amount of water to generate electricity. Electricity can even be generated by two gallons of water flowing per minute. On a larger scale this electricity is enough to be used by homes within a mile of the system.

Disadvantages of the small electric system:

1. Unreliable during summer

Since the generation of electricity by the mini hydro electric system relies on the flow of water, it may not be reliable during the summer because the size of the streams and rivers shrinks. This result in a low power output and the energy requirements may not be met.

2. It cannot be expanded:

Any future attempts to expand the system may not be possible because the rivers and streams can only supply a certain amount of power. Any expansion therefore may require a larger source of water to be used than is possible for the micro hydro-electric system.

3. The location:

Setting up the system is not as easy as it sounds. This is because it requires a lot of things to be taken into consideration before settling on an area where it can be set up. Things such as the size of the stream, the distance of the area that requires electricity supply from the system, etc.

Summary of the Micro Hydroelectric power system:

The mini hydro-electric system still remains an efficient way of providing a household with sufficient supplies of energy – if not an entire community, except on the largest scale. In addition it is environmentally friendly and cost effective despite its need to rely on the flow of water.