Micro-hydropower savings cost for water sector

The potential for further cost savings of up to £1M a year from micro-hydropower in Wales alone could help keep water bills down, according to new research findings from Bangor University and Trinity College Dublin

A €1M ERDF Ireland-Wales Programme (INTERREG IV)-funded research project looked at whether placing hydropower turbines within the water system could save the water companies and their customers money. The research looked at the current efficiency of water supply system, the best technology and how much it might cost, the environmental benefits, and which groups need to collaborate to enable the water industry to reap the greatest benefits from installing micro-hydropower into their systems.

In Wales, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water could ultimately save a further £1M a year by generating around 10 million kilowatts of electricity using micro-hydropower. That is enough electricity to power at least 2,000 homes in Wales, simply by harnessing water already flowing around the system. Similar potential savings were found for water companies in Ireland. This would not only save money, but would also prevent around 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas from being released into the atmosphere by the generation of electricity.

Mike Pedley, Welsh Water's head of Energy, welcomed the project findings saying: “At Welsh Water we already make considerable use of hydro but this project has helped bring into focus where more could be done with the right technological developments. Equipment such as pressure reducing valves are common in all water companies’ networks but none has yet to offer a viable hydro solution for the majority of these sites.”

However, the project partners found that current hydropower technology cannot yet offer the low cost compact technology needed to realise all this potential, and hope to take the initial findings further with the development and demonstration of new low-cost turbine technology. They are currently exploring regional and European funding to make Wales and Ireland world leaders in providing energy efficient water services to consumers. 

“The Hydro-BPT project has been insightful to say the least,” said Dr Prysor Williams, the project lead and co-investigator at Bangor University’s School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography. He added: “We hope to continue working with Trinity College Dublin, the water industry and other relevant stakeholders from across the EU in further projects that build on this work. There’s no doubt that the water industry is demonstrating an awareness of energy efficiency, and the work of the Hydro-BPT team can help them achieve a more sustainable future.”

Source: WWT Online

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Taxonomy

• Hydropower
• Economics Of Water Resources Projects
• Energy Management, Auditing and Efficiency