BIG energy from SMALL power hydro electricity systems

Phil Hofmeyer, Ph.D. Morrisville State College’s

Renewable Energy Training Center

hofmeypv@morrisville.edu

July 5-7, 2013, Lake Placid, NY

A quick introduction…

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Overview

System components

Resource assessment

Estimating power and energy

Example systems

Permitting Process

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The way it used to be…

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The way it used to be…

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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

Resource assessment - catchment

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Flow: A-E (high to low)

Head: 1-5 (high to low)

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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750 GPM on 160 feet of head

300 W, 2600 kWh/yr

Oxbow Falls

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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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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Permitting – Environmental Resource Mapper

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Permitting – FERC

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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

hofmeypv@morrisville.edu