Output details

The costs of small-scale hydro power production: Impact on the development of existing potential.

Funded by the Joule Centre for Energy, this research aims to develop a robust costing mechanism for small-scale hydropower developments to assist in end-user uptake worldwide. By statistical analysis of data sets provided by turbine manufacturers (Gilkes, NMH, Andritz, Alstom, Voith), empirical costing relationships for a wide range of device designs are derived and validated against extant alternative methodologies. Results have been favourably reviewed by a range of national and international stakeholders in hydropower, have led to 4 patent applications (2 awarded) and been used in installation of a new hydropower plant at the Heron Corn Mill, Cumbria (http://www.engineering.lancs.ac.uk/lureg/news/?article_id=962 ).