Renewable energy is a topic that is back in the spotlight in a big way. Today more than ever, therefore, we are talking about mini hydroelectricity and its role in renewable energy.
The energy crisis brings with it the need to find new energy sources and to do so as quickly as possible.
The spotlight is on hydropower and mini hydro in particular.
What is mini hydroelectricity?
Usually when people think of hydropower plants, images of massive power plants come to mind.
These are usually power plants that are able to supply power to medium and large communities that can number as many as tens of millions of inhabitants. The size and power of these plants are such that they also change the appearance of the areas they are built in.
However, today’s focus is on mini hydro, which also helps us recast these types of plants in a different light.
Plants become less invasive, less impactful, and safer with reduced installed capacity.
Characteristics of mini hydroelectric plants
These small hydropower plants are usually connected to conventional electricity distribution networks. For this reason, they can be considered low-cost renewable energy sources.
Hydropower plants harness the power of water flow and, for this reason, are built alongside rivers or streams. The construction of a large plant requires a stream with a constant flow and an elevation difference of at least 2-3 meters.
Small hydropower plants, on the other hand, take advantage of water from a reservoir that is brought to the hydraulic turbine via a pipeline. The water turns the turbine blades, which in turn moves the generator shaft and creates electricity.
In this case, either existing dams can be used, or small, low-impact dams can be developed that can also be used for irrigation or to control river and lake levels.
Mini hydroelectricity in the world and in Italy
Since 2005, the number of mini hydroelectric plants has increased. Most of the plants are in China, but there are also several in the United States and Japan.
In China in particular, there is a lot of investment in small hydro and photovoltaics, and national measures have even been introduced to support them.
Redelfi, in 2019, acquired RH Hydro, a company which owns a mini hydro plant in Piedmont.
The run-of-river plant is located in Pomaro Monferrato, in the province of Alessandria, near the Grana stream. It takes advantage of a 2.63-meter drop with a Kapland turbine.
One of the best features of the plant is that it is environmentally friendly and manages to ensure a constant flow of energy. This is a remarkable achievement, which also guarantees the local population a stream with clean banks.
Redelfi is a great believer in the power and potential of mini hydro as an alternative and renewable energy source. The Piedmont experience could be repeated in other places, both in Italy and abroad.
The topic is certainly of interest and should be explored further. Today Italy is among the nations that take less advantage than they could of the possibilities coming from alternative resources that can produce energy, and this is a gap that must be filled as soon as possible for the future of generations to come and of our country. The energy crisis we are experiencing has led to new scenarios and created new needs: it is time to take an active interest in emerging solutions that can break our dependence on fossil fuels.
