hydro-power in devon “ dripping water carves a stone.” - ovid – john baker devon county...
TRANSCRIPT
Hydro-power in Devon
“Dripping water carves a stone.”- Ovid –
John Baker Devon County CouncilAugust 2009 AER Summer School
Introduction
• Devon – what’s it like?
• Why are we interested in renewable energy and hydro power?
• RE4D - Devon’s award Winning Renewable Energy Project
• Examples of hydro-power in Devon
• Other examples from Devon of technology generating power from water
Devon:
• Rural County with dispersed remote communities
• 52,616 rural businesses employing 186,724 staff.
• Two coastlines
• 7 protected landscapes
• 1 UNESCO Biosphere reserve
• 2 UNESCO World heritage sites
Life in Devon:
• 3 x more Agricultural activity
• 2 x more Tourism business
• ½ the firms turnover <€57,000
• 17% of the working age population is self employed compared to Uk average of 10%
• Gross annual pay is lower at €18, 300 compared to UK average of €21,144
• Connection to Internet is slow - typically less than 2Mbps
• People move to Devon for the lifestyle!
Green technology is a priority:
- Encouraging business start ups, enterprise and innovation
- Developing our identity as England’s Greenest County
- www.devoneconomy.co.uk
The road to 2020:
• 15% target for renewable energy (2% Starting point)
• We now require “swift delivery”…
RE4D case study• Support for businesses, communities and
households to install micro-technology:– Solar thermal and solar PV– Biomass– Wind– Hydro
• RE4D for:– Demand stimulation– Supply chain support– Encourage Innovation
RE4D supported projects:
RE4D headlines:• 90 new jobs
• 154 installations
• 3MW of installed capacity
• £2m additional spend in the Devon economy
• 1700 tonnes of CO2 saved per annum
• 100 events promoting micro installations
• 2009 Ashden award winner www.ashdenawards.org
• 15% growth in sector
• 11 technology growth plans – 4 of them focusing on Hydro
Benefits of Hydro…• Produces pollution free renewable electricity
• Electricity can be used domestically or sold at a premium
• Generates continuously over long periods
• Long equipment lifespan (25 to 50 years)
• Many suitable sites
Devon hydro installations:
The contribution of hydro…
Hydro - the basics:
• Power = head (height in M) x Mass (M3/second)
C. Penstock Pipe(100 to 500 metres)
B. Forebay Tank or Reservoir
D. Turbine and Generator
Flow(litres per second)
H. Electrical Loadssuch as lightbulbs, radio and TV are connectedinside the house.
A. Water Supply(usually a springor a small canal)
Fluorescent lampsuse less power
Head (metres)
F. Mechanical Loade.g. Grain Mill
Water escapesalong tailrace
Pico Hydro Power System
G. The Distribution System connectsthe houses in thevillage to thegenerator.
E. Electronic Controller
AC Electricity220V 50Hz or 110V 60Hz
Hydro History:– Water was once used extensively as a source of motive power in Europe.
– 5000 mills were recorded in 1086AD in the Doomsday book
Hydro History:
On Dartmoor the tin and woollen industry has left a legacy of hydro power
Hydro innovation:
Re-activation of many of these old sites for electricity generation is now becoming worthwhile.
Design of low-head schemes
Direction of river flow
C. Turbine-generator located in mill
A. Turbine-generatorincorporated into weir
B. Turbine-generatorlocated in spillway or leat overflow
Leat
Weir
Fish pass
Mill
Overflow /spillway
Tailrace
Domestic hydro:
Automated self-cleaning grid-connect installation on Dartmoor…
Low head technology: Modern waterwheels
Overshot waterwheel (3m dia. 7.5 kW)
Hydro innovation:
Archimedes screw turbines – low head high flow turbine and fish friendly
Seven SWW Hydro Electric schemes
• Avon Reservoir 117 kW• Crownhill WTW 425 kW• Littlehempston WTW 480 kW• Mary Tavy Power Station 2600 kW• Meldon Reservoir 430 kW• Morwellham Power Station 640 kW• Roadford Reservoir 975 kW
Total Installed Cap. 5.6 MW2008/09 Output 13,885 MWh
Big Hydro Electric Power:
Big units: Roadford reservoir
• Constructed and filled 1990• Cost £75 million• Capacity 37,000 megalitres• Area 3 sq.km• Maximum release 148Ml/d• Max. Head 38m
• 3 x Francis turbines by Biwater• 730kW (shown in this photo)• 180kW• 40kW compensation m/c
Other technologies being developed in the region:
Wave hub - Severn Barrage - Atlantic Array - Algal bio reactors
Devon’s Hydro businesses• www.heidra.co.uk
• www.picoenergy.co.uk
• www.hydrogeneration.co.uk
• www.westernrenew.co.uk (case studies)
• www.southwestwater.co.uk
• www.re4d.org (case studies)
• www.regensw.co.uk (strategies and reports)
Concluding remarks:
• Hydro can make a significant contribution to generating renewable energy - especially in upland areas or where water is impounded for potable supplies
•Environmental impact assessments need to be high quality
• Feasibility work is essential
• Small schemes benefit from advice support and mentoring
• Grants and existing infrastructure for small projects improve the business case
Fin