Hydro Energy

This note provides basic information with regard to developing a small scale hydro power plant. A brief outline of the key design issues are presented. Many developers considering hydro power for the first time can benefit greatly from advice provided by consultants working in the area. A list of consultants who will be able to guide a developer through the process of building a hydro plant is provided below.

The critical items associated with the building process for a hydro power plant include the following:

• Hydro resource (how much power is available, is this commercially viable, what size turbine is appropriate?)
• Planning permission and environmental impact (contact local council authority for requirements)
• Power purchase agreement (see below)
• Permission to connect to the electrical grid (contact ESB Networks)
• License to generate electricity (contact Commission for Energy Regulation)

Power Purchase Agreement:

When designing a hydro plant, the electricity generated may be used directly on site to displace electricity imports to a facility or the electricity may be exported in order to receive a fixed payment from an Electricity Supplier for the output produced from the turbine. To receive fixed payments, a developer must secure a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from either a Government source or a private company such as Airtricity or Viridian. The Dept of Communication Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) offers PPAs to buy electricity produced from hydro plants. These PPAs are considered to be of sufficient value to allow developers to secure up to 70% of the cost of the project from bank loans. This Government scheme is referred to as the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) and offers hydro generators 7.2c per kWh of electricity generated once the necessary planning permissions and grid connection offer have been obtained. The price is partially indexed linked to inflation and is valid for 15 years. Details of this scheme are available at the DCENR’s website:

http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/

Design Guidelines for Small Hydro Projects

The Dept of Communications Marine and Natural Resources and the Central Fisheries Board have released a report entitled “Guidelines on the Construction and Operation of Small Scale Hydro Electric Schemes and Fisheries” which can be downloaded from the Central Fisheries Board website as follows:

http://www.cfb.ie/pdf/hydro.pdf

Case Studies

Case Studies may be found on our website www.seai.ie then go to Publications, Renewables Publications, Reference Centre then Case Studies or try the following link:

http://www.seai.ie/index.asp?locID=1034&docID=-1

Service Suppliers and Equipment Manufacturers

Please email renewables@reio.ie for information on small and micro-hydro consultants and suppliers.

Content courtesy of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland