As the number of cottages has expanded, so has our demand for electricity.
When we began our modest solar system was
sufficient for our needs, but now we require more power, we have installed a micro hydro electricity system.
The system we have is an LH-1000, low head, high flow turbine, providing a constant kilowatt of power for the property; more than enough for us!
The water is collected in a catchment tank under one of our bridges,passing through a settling tank to slow it down and allow the dust to settle, then down stream in pipes until we have the 10 foot drop (head) required for the system.
Then the power of the suction as the water passes through the 10 foot long tube is what turns the turbine and generates the power. The hydro system is connected to the same battery bank as our solar system; come rain or shine, we should have plenty of power.
Although this hydro system does take some water from the river, a few moments later, once it has turned the propeller of the turbine, the water is returned to the river, as clean as the moment it left.
