Hydro Electricity
Hydro-electric – high potential output through the gravitational force of water
Many hydro-power projects are created to serve specific industrial enterprises. The major advantage of hydroelectricity is elimination of the cost of fuel and zero-carbon electricity.
Where hydro-power opportunity exists (factories and buildings located near to a viable hydro resource) we recommend detailed investigation as the technology offers a number of advantagess:
- Near continual output
- Low maintenance
- Relatively fast payback
- Long service life
Darwind understands that some major factories and buildings have been located near to viable, yet disused hydro-resources. In such cases, reinstating old plant can be very cost effective, as the civil engineering component of the installation can often be re-used.
However, hydro-electric plant is very site specific. To generate substantial outputs the systems requires considerable flow rates of several hundred litres per second, and a 'head' (fall of water) of at least several metres. However in some circumstances, smaller projects may still be worth investigating.
Darwind uses Senior Consultants who are adept in developing hydro resource and offer the following services:
- Determination of resource availability and financial viability
- Environment Agency liaison and permitting
- Establishing connection
- Design, installation, supply and maintenance of plant.
Hydro-electric plant is usually grid connected so that surplus power can be sold to produce a revenue stream. As with all low carbon electricity, Feed In Tariffs (FIT), renewable ebligation certificates (RECs) are received on all power produced regardless of whether it is exported or used on-site.
Hydro - the latest information on FITs
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