Micro Hydro Systems – Harness the Power of a Nearby Stream for Your Home’s Electrical Needs
If there is a running stream or brook on your property or nearby, you may be able to harness its power and use it to replace most of your electric needs. This can be an efficient and reliable way to heat your house and power everything in it that is electric. In fact, you may even be able to make your electric meter spin backwards and get a check from the electric company, as will be outlined later. All in all, micro hydro is a renewable or “green” form of energy that will reduce your carbon footprint and your electric and home heating bills at the same time.
Some people worry about whether their small stream can possibly generate enough electricity to make a difference. Actually, it takes very little water movement, or a very small waterfall to generate significant power. In fact, a flow of even three gallons per minute, or a waterfall two to three feet high, may be enough to make it worthwhile. Another concern, particularly among those who have a lot of land, is how far from the micro hydro set up the resulting energy can be delivered. The answer is that the house can be a mile or even more away. Also, sometimes people will pay a small price, or perhaps even share the resulting electricity, with a neighbor if the neighbor allows the system to be located on their property because there is a better potential site there.