kW or kWh? Lessons Learned in 50 Years of Small Hydro Turbines Design, Fabrication, Installation & Operation
(Room Jupiter 8)
02 Sep 15
11:00 AM
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12:30 PM
Modern Small Hydropower can be considered not only an important alternative to sustain today's demand of Energy, but sometime the only sustainable solution to power remote areas.
To develop, install and operate a modern Small Hydro plant it is nowadays more and more important to take advantage of the expertise developed by worldwide equipment manufacturers, taking in consideration all possibilities to improve plant productivity, whilst keeping at the same time under control the costs for development, installation and operation of the power station.
Based on our experience of more than 50 years in Small Hydropower turbines installed worldwide, we have learned the importance of a dedicated approach in turbine design, that should not only be cost driven to be the cheapest.
A modern approach in the design of effective Small Hydropower should in fact consider how to reduce costs to maximize installed power, but at the same time all possible solutions permitting to improve plant factor, availability and flexibility.
Modern plants should include components doing what exactly has to be done, with extensive use of quality in construction and technological content to maximize life cycle of components and reduce as much as possible maintenance costs.
On the basis of our experience we have learned how to provide goods of satisfactory quality and fit to purpose, serve on reasonable standards and delivery within reasonable time.
Re-engineering of design process with modern tools is today giving to Small Hydro developers the chance to increase plant performances so that Small Hydro solution might be sustainable even with turbines installed in existing facilities, such as irrigation networks, where electrical generation is not the priority.
Example of rehabilitation of existing old plants can give clear understanding on how modern technologies has to be intended an investment for the future and not an expense.