Category Archives: Hydropower

Hydropower

Projects

We use our experience of scheme optimisation and planning to implement projects that maximise return on investment.

Whatever scale, all hydro projects require a detailed and rigorous approach to design and development.  For new proposals, we will give you an informed and objective view on viability, rapidly identify potential challenges and help to streamline the development.

Where possible, we will provide a range of alternatives and enable the client to take a lead in design decisions.

Hydromatch Consulting provides the following project-related services and we can join your implementation team at any stage of the project.

  • Viability assessments and feasibility studies
  • Detailed hydro energy resource investigations
  • Scheme design and comparison of alternatives strategies
  • Project budgets and financial modelling
  • Environmental applications
  • Fish pass design
  • Planning applications
  • Flood defence consent
  • Flood risk assessments
  • Detailed design
  • Construction drawings
  • OFGEM and Feed-in-Tariff registration
  • Project management and sub-contracting
  • CDM safety planning and implementation
  • Mechanical and Electrical installation
  • Scheme commissioning
  • Operator training and handover
  • Remote monitoring
  • Project maintenance and optimisation under changing conditions
Case Study, Hydropower, Monitoring

Blaenavon

Hydromatch Consulting Case Study 9 Site Name: Dragon’s Teeth
System type: Crossflow Turbine Maximum Power: 20 kW
Manufacturer: Ossberger Typical Generation: 90 MWh p.a.
Client: Torfaen County
Borough Council		 Design Conditions: H = 25.00 m
Q = 0.1 m3/s
Location: Blaenavon, S. Wales Commissioned: September 2011

Live Output

Power: 0  kW
Energy (Since 19/10/11): 0  kWh
CO2 Saving: 0  tonnes
Updated:
Time (min)
Power (kW)
Time (min)
Temp (oC)

Project description:

This scheme was commissioned by the Forgotten Landscapes Partnership; a project celebrating heritage and industry in the landscape around the former colliery town of Blaenavon in South Wales.

Use is made of water channelled into a river diversion originally designed to prevent landscape erosion. The series of cascading concrete weirs controlling the flow are known locally as the ‘Dragon’s Teeth!’ The hydropower scheme diverts water from the top of the channel into a penstock pipe which is connected to a crossflow turbine at the foot of the hill 280 metres away.

The existing channel was adapted to form the intake sump and includes a ‘coanda’ type screen to filter out debris. The scheme is fully automated and designed to minimise maintenance. A data logging system in the powerhouse enables scheme operation can be monitored via the internet (see live output data).

The generator is connected to the national grid via a buried cable to Blaenavon World Heritage Centre 450 metres away. The electricity produced is used directly and reduces the running costs of the building. Income from the Feed in Tariff is used to support further initiatives in the local community.






Case Study, Hydropower

Dean Forest Railway 11 kW Hydropower Scheme

Details of the proposed scheme:

System type: Crossflow Turbine Power output: 11 kW
Developer: Dean Forest Railway Co. Ltd Design Conditions: H = 4.5 m
Q = 0.40 m3/s
Location: Lydney, Gloucestershire Expected Generation: 68 MWh p.a.

 

This micro-hydro scheme is proposed on the site of the Dean Forest Railway at Norchard Drift. The station is run by the volunteers of the Dean Forest Railway Society who’s objective is to preserve the last remaining section of the Severn & Wye Railway.

The scheme is to be constructed at the outfall of a culvert which runs under the railway into the River Lyd. Pico Energy have designed a scheme to fit in with the existing topology and modelled it using 3D CAD, shown in the montage above. Consents are currently under way with abstraction license and planning permission already obtained by Pico Energy.

The scheme is planned to connect with the supply for the station, helping to meet its electricity demand and improve the railways long term viability.

If you have a similar project in mind, then please get in touch for an informal discussion about how we may be able to assist with the scheme implementation info@picoenergy.co.uk

Case Study, Hydropower

Taff Bargoed 100 kW Hydropower Scheme

System type: Crossflow Turbine Power output: 100 kW
Developer: Friends of Taff Bargoed Park Design Conditions: H = 23.0m
Q = 0.60 m3/s
Location: Taff Bargoed, Treharris, Wales Expected Generation: 480 MWh p.a.

Community Organisation, “Friends of Taff Bargoed Park” were awarded funding to develop legal and technical plans for a hydropower scheme on the Taff Bargoed River, Treharris. The income generated by the scheme through the Feed-in Tariff will be used for the upkeep and improvement of facilities at Taff Bargoed Park. Hydromatch Consulting provided the detailed technical design and made license applications. Construction is almost ready to begin.

The services we have so far provided:

  1. Flow measurements to validate modelling
  2. Topographical survey
  3. Detailed design
  4. Permissions and license applications
    • Abstraction license
    • Impoundment license
    • Flood defence consent
    • Fish pass approval
    • Grid connection application
    • Planning permission
    • OFGEM pre-accreditation
  5. Ground investigations
  6. Detailed construction drawings
  7. Tender specification
  8. CDM preparation

If you have a similar project in mind, get in touch for an informal discussion about how we can assist with implementation.