BIG energy from SMALL power hydro electricity systems
Transcript of BIG energy from SMALL power hydro electricity systems
BIG energy from SMALL power hydro electricity systems
Phil Hofmeyer, Ph.D. Morrisville State College’s
Renewable Energy Training Center
July 5-7, 2013, Lake Placid, NY
Overview
System components
Resource assessment
Estimating power and energy
Example systems
Permitting Process
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Grid-interactive
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• No battery cost
• Smaller inverter
• Lower wire costTurbine
Fused AC
Disconnect
Diversion
Controller
Diversion
load
Inverter
kWh
meter
Main
panel
Estimating output
• Unlike wind and solar, if sized appropriately, hydro power can be nearly constant production
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(GPM) Flow x (feet) Head(Watts)Power
Estimating power – an example
• Stream with 100 feet of head and 100 GPM of available flow
• Power = (100*100) / 10
• Power = 1000 Watts (or 1 kW)
– Relatively low power
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Estimating Energy – an example
• Assuming 1,000 W continuous
• 2% annual downtime for maintenance
• Power x Time = Energy
• 1 kW * 8760 hrs/yr * 0.98 = 8580 kWh/yr
Is that good?
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Is that good?
• To get equivalent energy from a wind system would require ~15’ wind turbine rotor (or larger)
• …or ~7 kW solar array in central NY (>550 ft2 of collector area, or more)
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Some other examples
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80 GPM on 75 feet of head
610 W, 5020 kWh/yr120 GPM on 40 feet of head
480 W, 4000 kWh/yr
Some other examples
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450 GPM on 90 feet of head
3.5 kW, 30,000 kWh/yr250 GPM on 120 feet of head
3 kW, 25,000 kWh/yr
System economics – An example
• 450 GPM, 90’ head, 3.5 kW power
• 1300’ of 6” polyethylene penstock
• Turbine, inverter, controller, etc.
• System cost: $35,000
• Expected lifespan: 20 years
• Annual energy output: 33,500 kWh
• Energy rate of $0.13/kWh
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System economics – An example
• System cost: $35,000 (no incentives available)
• $0.13/kWh * 33,500 kWh/yr = $4,355/yr
• Simple payback: 35,000/4,355 = ~8 years
• Return on Investment: 12.5%
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Conclusions
• Small power systems lead to cost-effective energy production
• NEED for NYSERDA incentives (much more energy returned/dollar invested)
• DEC permitting often required
– Very good relationships thus far!
• Highly selective sites and clients
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Thank you!
Phil Hofmeyer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Renewable Energy
Morrisville State College