Totara Valley distributed Totara Valley distributed generation projectgeneration project

Micro Hydro schemeMicro Hydro scheme

July 2006July 2006

Totara ValleyTotara Valley

• 20mins drive northeast of Woodville20mins drive northeast of Woodville• Site of several Massey renewable Site of several Massey renewable

energy projectsenergy projects– Solar photovoltaic and solar thermalSolar photovoltaic and solar thermal– Wind Turbine + Electrolyser + Fuel cellWind Turbine + Electrolyser + Fuel cell– Bio-diesel generatorBio-diesel generator

• Very supportive landownersVery supportive landowners• Proximity to Massey UniversityProximity to Massey University

Totara valleyTotara valley

Features of Hydro projectFeatures of Hydro project

• 1400W peak output1400W peak output

• 165 m static head 165 m static head

• 1300m “penstock”1300m “penstock”

• Maximum flow rate 2Litres/secMaximum flow rate 2Litres/sec

• Grid InteractiveGrid Interactive

Site considerationsSite considerations

• High head site High head site selected because…selected because…

• Technical and Technical and academic academic challengeschallenges

• Low environmental Low environmental impactimpact

• Allows stress testing Allows stress testing of components and of components and further researchfurther research

Intake siteIntake site

Turbine SiteTurbine Site

Equipment SelectionEquipment Selection

• Pelton wheel good choice for high Pelton wheel good choice for high head sitehead site

• EcoInnovations turbine selectedEcoInnovations turbine selected– NZ manufacturerNZ manufacturer– Recycled materialsRecycled materials– Innovative designInnovative design– Availability of spares and supportAvailability of spares and support– Competitive pricingCompetitive pricing

Alternator detailAlternator detail

Energy Recyclers Grid Energy Recyclers Grid Interactive InverterInteractive Inverter

Working Pressure 1260 kPAWorking Pressure 1260 kPA

Project milestonesProject milestones

• 26 April 2005 initial survey26 April 2005 initial survey

• Consent application completed 21 July Consent application completed 21 July 0505

• Week of 16 Dec 05, Installation of Week of 16 Dec 05, Installation of intake, hut, turbine, intake pipe.intake, hut, turbine, intake pipe.

• 24 Mar 06 connection to grid completed 24 Mar 06 connection to grid completed operational on temporary basis operational on temporary basis

• Continuous operation 25 July 06.Continuous operation 25 July 06.

Construction – Turbine siteConstruction – Turbine site

Pipe InstallationPipe Installation

Resource Consent processResource Consent process

• Discretionary activity under the Discretionary activity under the district plandistrict plan

• Two consents requiredTwo consents required– For diversion/abstraction of surface For diversion/abstraction of surface

waterwater– For discharge into a streamFor discharge into a stream

• Would have also required consent for Would have also required consent for dam if requireddam if required

Resource Consent process –Resource Consent process –cont’dcont’d

• Horizons regional Council agreed to Horizons regional Council agreed to issue 2 non notified consents issue 2 non notified consents providing we obtained written providing we obtained written permission frompermission from– LandownersLandowners– NeighborsNeighbors– DOCDOC– Fish and Game Fish and Game

Intake siteIntake site

RMA processRMA process• Considerable volume of documentation Considerable volume of documentation

requiredrequired• Council approval approx 4 monthsCouncil approval approx 4 months• Council charges $1,289 + deposit Council charges $1,289 + deposit • Ongoing annual “monitoring” chargeOngoing annual “monitoring” charge• Ongoing annual “administration” chargeOngoing annual “administration” charge• Consent is for 20 years with 5 yearly reviewsConsent is for 20 years with 5 yearly reviews

• All of the above are significant disincentives All of the above are significant disincentives and are a barrier to development of small and are a barrier to development of small scale renewables.scale renewables.

Hut InteriorHut Interior

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

• Monitoring the performance and Monitoring the performance and reliability of present turbinereliability of present turbine

• Trials with induction motors and Trials with induction motors and other technologies.other technologies.

• Addition of telemetry and remote Addition of telemetry and remote monitoring equipmentmonitoring equipment

• Possible development of a previously Possible development of a previously identified low head site identified low head site

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

• Jim Hargreaves – Massey UniversityJim Hargreaves – Massey University• Ralph Simms – Massey UniversityRalph Simms – Massey University• Michael Lawley, Riana – EcoInnovationsMichael Lawley, Riana – EcoInnovations• Todd, Poultan’s Australian shearer Todd, Poultan’s Australian shearer • Bram & Peter – Visiting Post Grad StudentsBram & Peter – Visiting Post Grad Students• IRL – Ben, AlisterIRL – Ben, Alister• Mainpower – Andrew, ToddMainpower – Andrew, Todd• Mark CarterMark Carter• Apologies to those contributors I have overlookedApologies to those contributors I have overlooked

THANK YOU !THANK YOU !