Picture: Protests at Power Cuts

Nepalese workers protest against power cuts in Kathmandu - where the government-owned Nepal Electricity Authority blames low water levels at hydroelectric dams.

30kW Hydro Electricity Site Reduces CO2 by 100t a Year

A new chapter in Northern Ireland’s search for a sustainable future has been opened with the completion of a hydroelectric scheme in Ballycastle.

Local farmer John McCambridge has re-energised a 100 year-old hydro system on his land, installing a new cross flow turbine, the first of its kind in the area. The turbine has been built on the Carey River near the Cushendall Road in Ballycastle.

The project was funded by Interreg IIIA through the Special EU Programmes Body, Northern Ireland Electricity’s Smart Programme and by Mr McCambridge himself. Producing around 200,000 units of renewable electricity every year, the new 30kW hydro generating system will reduce the amount of CO2 emitted into the local atmosphere by up to 100 tonnes each year.

"It has been great to develop this site from the old turbine, which was no longer performing to its full potential. We have replaced it with a modern turbine, which enables us to maximise the hydro power available to us. This allows us as a business to reduce our carbon emissions on the local environment and in turn also reduces our energy costs. We will also be installing a wood chip boiler for domestic purposes, it will be fuelled by willow coppice, which at presently is growing on our farm, thus allowing us to reduce our carbon footprint further. I believe renewable energy will be a vital part of our farming business now and for future generations to come."
Eoin McCambridge, Manager, Hyrdo Electricity Scheme

The existing plant had been in operation for over 100 years, up until 2003. The 30kW German manufactured turbine was installed last year, and Eoin has used the existing weir to drive the new, more efficient turbine and generate electricity. The bulk of the electricity generated will be used in a newly constructed drying facility for willow chips, and the rest will be used on the farm.

“There is enormous potential in Northern Ireland for hydro generated electricity and this project will benefit the local community through the reduction of CO2. There is a number of existing, out of use hydro generating systems in Northern Ireland and many of these could be easily put back into operation. Hydro technology not only has high levels of operational reliability, it also is low maintenance and low in operating costs. NIE is keen to encourage more landowners to invest in hydro projects, which will add to Northern Ireland’s clean, renewable electricity capacity. Any electricity generated, which is not used onsite, can be exported back to the grid and be purchased by NIE Energy.”
Claire Carson, NIE Energy

Picture: Generic 30kW Hydro System

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Renewables: Hydro Power

Hydro power systems use running water turning a turbine to produce electricity. A micro hydro plant is one that generates less than 100kW. Improvements in small turbine and generator technology mean that micro hydro schemes are an attractive means of producing electricity. Useful power may be produced from even a small stream.

Hydro power requires the source to be relatively close to where the power will be used, or to a suitable grid connection. Hydro systems can be connected to the main electricity grid or as a part of a stand-alone (off-grid) power system. In a grid-connected system, any electricity generated but not used can be sold to electricity companies.

In an off-grid hydro system, electricity can be supplied directly to the devices powered or through a battery bank and inverter set up. A back-up power system may be needed to compensate for seasonal variations in water flow.

The capital cost is high but the prospect of not having electricity bills or making money by selling energy back to a power supplier may tempt you!

Hydro power systems convert potential energy stored in water held at height to kinetic energy (or the energy used in movement) to turn a turbine to produce electricity.

Energy available in a body of water depends on the water's flow rate and the height (or head) that the water falls. These are divided into low head, medium head and high head, where the height drop is greater. The scheme's actual output will depend on how efficiently it converts the power of the water into electrical power (maximum efficiencies of over 90% are possible but for small systems 60 - 80% is more realistic).

If you are interested in installing hydro , typical installation cost for a small scale system is dependant on the head height however £4,000 per kW for low, £2,000 per kW for medium are realistic with a fixed cost of about £10,000, however grants are available from the low carbon buildings programme (funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI). To be eligible for a grant you will need to use a certified installer and products. The low carbon buildings programme offers a maximum of £2,500 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower for Hydro systems.