Domestic hydro - company in Cork?

Register1

Hi guys

I am looking in to micro hydroelectricity generation ( domestic use) is there any company in Cork that would take on this project.

Firstly I would need a site assesmant, we have enough flow not sure about head.

Any advice or recommendations appreciated.

Regards,

Reg 1

Macha

Contact SEI. They have just set up an Ocean Energy Industry Forum:

http://www.sei.ie/Renewables/Ocean_Energy/OceanEnergyIndustryForum/

Register1

Hi Taconnal,

Thanks for that, I have contacted those on list down south but to no avail.

Reg1

Macha

Hmmm...maybe contact SEI directly? Their renewable energy office is actually in Cork:

Renewable Energy Information Office

Sustainable Energy Ireland
Unit A, West Cork Business & Technological Park,
Clonakilty,
Co. Cork
p +353-23-42193
f +353-23-63398


Also, this is the page with info on small hydro projects:

http://www.sei.ie/Renewables/Hydro_Energy/

Register1

Great, thanks for that. Will contact them directly.

I was considering taking on the project myself, but ideally would like consultation just to mak esure we are on the right track.

Reg 1

quentingargan

I have a small domestic hydro that I self-installed in W. Cork. It is quite straightforward to do, but you may have planning issues if the stream is one that has fish (technically, micro-hydros do need PP).

Depending on scale of the project, it should be DIYable OK. If you want to grid tie the output, a standard wind inverter will do that bit no problem

PM me if you are nearby. I'm based in Bantry. Q

Lightning McQue

Try www.solarite.eu or 042-9358002 or 087-9670588

They installed a 3kw turbine in Greystones Co. Wicklow.

I didnt see it.

Other websites

www.coolpower.ie
www.merrimack.ie havent installed any yet
www.actionrenewables.org
www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
www.aidanmaguire.com
www.energysavingstrust.org.uk

www.piccoloenergy.ie are looking for someone to instal a micro-hydro turbine. Havent done one yet

www.absak.com/library/hydropower
www.navitron.org.uk

Lightning

Lightning McQue

Quentin

How big is your turbine?

How important is the distance from the house to the turbine?

I am concerned about transmission losses. The turbine would be located 500 metres from the house.

Lightning

quentingargan

Lightning McQue wrote: »

Quentin

How big is your turbine?

How important is the distance from the house to the turbine?

I am concerned about transmission losses. The turbine would be located 500 metres from the house.

Lightning

If you use a 3 phase 300V turbine, cable losses shouldn't be too significant, depending on your output a cable of either 3X6mm or 3X10mm should do it for turbines up to 1kw - you would have losses of about 2% on a 1kw system with 10mm cable. I would try to go for as high a voltage as possible to reduce current and losses.

Mine is a Stream Engine, which can produce up to 1.7kw, but we have it cut back to 300 watt because that is all the water we have available. Its more of a hobby.

jocmilt

Dan Twomey
Waterpower Engineering
Carrigeen
Banteer
County Cork
Ireland

Tel 029 58177



http://www.waterpower.ie/

quentingargan

By the way, the company you refer to doesn't sell hydro and to be honest, I haven't seen big commercial opportunities in that sector. If you have a suitable site, hydro is great and can have a fantastic payback time, but there are so few such sites compared to sites suitable for wind or solar thermal so I think it will always be a minority interest, suitable for very competetent DIYers.

Macha

jocmilt, if you suspect a poster of shilling please report the post instead of filling the thread with unfounded accusations.