Water Power
Most discussions revolve around hydrelectric schemes, reservoirs and tidal power potential.
Home Hydro
On private land where you have a water course across your property, such as a stream orriver, if you own an old water mill,or a hilly farm then water turbines can be considered for providing reliable long-term renewable energy.
Natural sites can vary considerably in flow between winter and summer, reflecting the differences in rainfall. It is important to make sure that the flow is sufficient to run the turbine or consider two turbines or twin nozzle machines if you wish extract maximum power from the turbine site.
Creation of small resevoirs can overcome this or work in conjunction and hill farmers have an ideal opportunity to capitalize on their terrain without the sensitivity of wind turbines.
For meaningful electrical output flow rates of 40litres a second need to be available. Alternative ideas are the utilisation of smaller energy outputs if near private dwellings to supply specific items ie the electricity for ground source heat pumps.
An important aspect of water turbine electical generation is its reliability and calculable returns. Please contact Solar Ray to discuss your situation further.
Tidal Power
Tidal power is is becoming of geater interest where submerged turbines can be installed at the fraction of the cost of tidal barriers or created lagoons. They have the advantage of using all four flow directions of the tides rather than two where filled lagoons and their subsequent emptying generates only 2 bouts of energy capture.
With the Crown Estate receptive to tidal schemes please contact Solar Ray to discuss your interest.
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