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Pico hydro – Reducing technical risks for rural electrification

Author

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  • Williams, A.A.
  • Simpson, R.

Abstract

Very small hydropower (pico hydro) schemes, with an output of less than 5kW, can be a cost-effective option for the electrification of remote rural communities. Despite the fact that each hydropower site is unique, there is potential for using standardised equipment and low-cost approaches to scheme design. Relatively low equipment costs are possible, particularly if locally manufactured in a developing country, which enable costs per unit of energy output to be lower than small petrol or diesel generators, wind turbines or PV systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Williams, A.A. & Simpson, R., 2009. "Pico hydro – Reducing technical risks for rural electrification," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 1986-1991.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:34:y:2009:i:8:p:1986-1991
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2008.12.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jim Giles, 2006. "Methane quashes green credentials of hydropower," Nature, Nature, vol. 444(7119), pages 524-524, November.
    2. Maher, P. & Smith, N.P.A. & Williams, A.A., 2003. "Assessment of pico hydro as an option for off-grid electrification in Kenya," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(9), pages 1357-1369.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lahimer, A.A. & Alghoul, M.A. & Sopian, K. & Amin, Nowshad & Asim, Nilofar & Fadhel, M.I., 2012. "Research and development aspects of pico-hydro power," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 5861-5878.
    2. Choudhury, Shibabrata & Parida, Adikanda & Pant, Rajive Mohan & Chatterjee, Saibal, 2019. "GIS augmented computational intelligence technique for rural cluster electrification through prioritized site selection of micro-hydro power generation system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 487-496.
    3. Bozorgi, A. & Javidpour, E. & Riasi, A. & Nourbakhsh, A., 2013. "Numerical and experimental study of using axial pump as turbine in Pico hydropower plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 258-264.
    4. Hirmer, Stephanie & Cruickshank, Heather, 2014. "The user-value of rural electrification: An analysis and adoption of existing models and theories," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 145-154.
    5. Kadier, Abudukeremu & Kalil, Mohd Sahaid & Pudukudy, Manoj & Hasan, Hassimi Abu & Mohamed, Azah & Hamid, Aidil Abdul, 2018. "Pico hydropower (PHP) development in Malaysia: Potential, present status, barriers and future perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2796-2805.
    6. Mishra, Sachin & Singal, S.K. & Khatod, D.K., 2011. "Optimal installation of small hydropower plant—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3862-3869.
    7. Chica, E. & Agudelo, S. & Sierra, N., 2013. "Lost wax casting process of the runner of a propeller turbine for small hydroelectric power plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 739-745.
    8. Gaiser, Kyle & Erickson, Paul & Stroeve, Pieter & Delplanque, Jean-Pierre, 2016. "An experimental investigation of design parameters for pico-hydro Turgo turbines using a response surface methodology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 406-418.
    9. Cobb, Bryan R. & Sharp, Kendra V., 2013. "Impulse (Turgo and Pelton) turbine performance characteristics and their impact on pico-hydro installations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 959-964.
    10. Williamson, S.J. & Stark, B.H. & Booker, J.D., 2014. "Low head pico hydro turbine selection using a multi-criteria analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 43-50.
    11. Powell, D. & Ebrahimi, A. & Nourbakhsh, S. & Meshkahaldini, M. & Bilton, A.M., 2018. "Design of pico-hydro turbine generator systems for self-powered electrochemical water disinfection devices," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 590-602.
    12. Laghari, J.A. & Mokhlis, H. & Bakar, A.H.A. & Mohammad, Hasmaini, 2013. "A comprehensive overview of new designs in the hydraulic, electrical equipments and controllers of mini hydro power plants making it cost effective technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 279-293.
    13. Lahimer, A.A. & Alghoul, M.A. & Yousif, Fadhil & Razykov, T.M. & Amin, N. & Sopian, K., 2013. "Research and development aspects on decentralized electrification options for rural household," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 314-324.
    14. Mandelli, Stefano & Barbieri, Jacopo & Mereu, Riccardo & Colombo, Emanuela, 2016. "Off-grid systems for rural electrification in developing countries: Definitions, classification and a comprehensive literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1621-1646.
    15. Abdullah, M.O. & Yung, V.C. & Anyi, M. & Othman, A.K. & Ab. Hamid, K.B. & Tarawe, J., 2010. "Review and comparison study of hybrid diesel/solar/hydro/fuel cell energy schemes for a rural ICT Telecenter," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 639-646.
    16. Susanto, J. & Stamp, S., 2012. "Local installation methods for low head pico-hydropower in the Lao PDR," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 439-447.
    17. Borge-Diez, David & Godoy-Déniz, Juan Manuel & López-Rey, África & Colmenar-Santos, Antonio, 2021. "Pico turbines, the solution to self-supply energy to the water supply network. A case study in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    18. Bhutto, Abdul Waheed & Bazmi, Aqeel Ahmed & Zahedi, Gholamreza, 2012. "Greener energy: Issues and challenges for Pakistan-hydel power prospective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 2732-2746.
    19. Williamson, S.J. & Stark, B.H. & Booker, J.D., 2013. "Performance of a low-head pico-hydro Turgo turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 1114-1126.
    20. Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco & Taher, Myriam & Zapata-Sierra, Antonio & Juaidi, Adel & Montoya, Francisco G., 2017. "An overview of research and energy evolution for small hydropower in Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 476-489.
    21. Balkhair, Khaled S. & Rahman, Khalil Ur, 2017. "Sustainable and economical small-scale and low-head hydropower generation: A promising alternative potential solution for energy generation at local and regional scale," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 378-391.
    22. Jawahar, C.P. & Michael, Prawin Angel, 2017. "A review on turbines for micro hydro power plant," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 882-887.

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