How does Micro Hydro Power Work?
Micro hydro power works by using falling water to drive a turbine, which generates electricity. This process converts potential energy stored in water held at height to kinetic energy which is used to turn the turbine and produce electricity. The amount of electricity a system generates depends on how efficiently it converts the power of the water into electrical power. The amount of energy that a micro hydro power installation can generate depends on the flow rate of the water (i.e. how much water is flowing past each second) and the height, or head that the water is falling from, but useful energy can be produced from even a small stream. Micro hydro power schemes can be classified as low head, medium head or high head schemes, dependent on the height drop, and this is the main variable that is used to determine turbine type and system design. An example of a high head scheme would be a waterfall where the water intake can be close to the turbine but schemes can run over much larger
